Shock Premier League defenders on 15-man Barca hitlist to sort defensive woes

Barcelona are in the midst of a defensive crisis and they’ve identified two Premier League defenders to plug the gap.

The Nou Camp side currently have the likes of Samuel Umtiti and Thomas Vermaelen out injured – and need defenders.

And they’re turning to Chelsea’s David Luiz and Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny report Mundo – who claim there’s a huge 15-man shortlist of possible reinforcements.

Both defenders have enjoyed contrasting fortunes recently.

Luiz has been a mainstay in Sarri’s side this season, while Gunners boss Unai Emery has insisted Arsenal captain Koscielny will not be rushed back into action.

The France centre-back missed the World Cup after rupturing his Achilles’ tendon in the Europa Cup semi-final in May – but is now back in training.

The 33-year-old is hoping to earn a new contract with 18 months left on his current deal – which could suit Barcelona , who could take advantage of his lack of game time.

Emery said: “We need to be calm with him. Calm because he needs to first feel he is doing well and then he can play and do games in the training. We can then think he is oaky to play.

“He is very important for us because he is our captain. He is starting this week to do some training with us together and it is very, very good news for us."

But it’s not just those two. Zenoit’s Branislav Ivanovic and even former Real Madrid nemesis Pepe are also on the list according to Mundo.

And they don’t stop there.

Medhi Bentatia, Raul Albiol, Benedikt Howedes are been tracked, as well as Croatian duo Vedran Corluka, Domagoj Vida who are also on the list.

As well as Dante, Neven Subotic, Timothee Kolodziejczak, Adil Rami and even former Southampton defender Jose Fontem who is now at West Ham United.

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