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Barcelona could solve their defensive problems by targeting Tottenham Hotspur's Micky van de Ven. Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League by Atletico Madrid last week despite being 22 points ahead of them in LaLiga, leading many critics to highlight the fragility of their high-risk defensive system.
Hansi Flick's four-man defence often operates with an aggressive high line, often positioned inside the opposition's half to catch attackers offside. While his style worked convincingly during his debut season in Catalonia, rivals seem to have caught on, leaving the defensive line exposed and contributing to an 11th consecutive season without a European title for the club.
Furthermore, Flick's side have suffered from a lack of defensive depth this season, with Gerard Martin, who is naturally a left-back, playing most of the season in central defence. While he has been supported by promising 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi, the teenager's lack of experience in such a high-pressure system has led to costly mistakes at times.
This set-up has left defenders exposed, resulting in a number of red cards for denying clear scoring opportunities. It is worth noting that three of Barcelona's main defenders, Eric Garcia, Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo, have each received two red cards over the last two Champions League seasons.
On talkSPORT's Trans Europe Express, European football journalist Lars Sivertsen suggested that experienced Premier League defender Van de Ven could help to revamp Barcelona's defensive line.
Van de Ven is known for his speed, allowing him to fit comfortably into a top-line defensive system. Tottenham are currently in the relegation zone in 18th place and the Dutchman could be an ideal replacement for Inigo Martinez, offering the same left-footed play and pace. He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded speed in Premier League history (23.23 mph).
While Tottenham finished 17th last year, they managed to end a 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League under Ange Postecoglou, employing an equally aggressive defensive setup that relied on the Dutchman's recovery pace.
For the Catalan team, acquiring a player who can easily manage a top-line system could be the difference for European glory.
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