Valencia have joined a host of clubs, including Liverpool, in the hunt for Barcelona defender Marc Bartra, according to Superdeporte. Bartra has fallen out of favour at the Camp Nou this season and has only started five games this season, three in the league and two in the Champions League.
When asked about buying players from Barcelona, Valencia sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch responded by saying that his good relationship with Barca director Robert Fernandez could help them bring in some signings from the La Liga leaders. Valencia newspaper Superdeporte believe that they are pursuing Bartra and team mate Alen Halilovic who is currently on loan at Sporting Gijon.
Spanish newspaper El Confidencial revealed last month that Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham are all interested in 25 year old and speculation further increased when Barca director Fernandez stated that Bartra’s future was open to discussion because of his lack of starts under Luis Enrique this season. The Express believe that any suitor would only need to pay under half of Bartra’s £20million release clause as the Catalan club seek to move the centre-half on in the summer.
