Barcelona back-up transfer plan involves Manchester City pair

Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta has been busy outlining a Nou Camp transfer plan for this summer, and has identified the club’s chief close-season targets.

And whilst Premier League champions Manchester City would not be affected should Barca’s initial plans come to fruition, a couple of their players have been identified as back-up recruitment options.

It is believed that the La Liga giants have made Dortmund central defender Mats Hummels, 24, their priority summer signing, and are willing to pay £25m for his services.

But there is no guarantee the German champions will allow their captain to leave, particularly as his contract runs until 2017, and the club is in a sound financial position.

Thus, Barca could turn their attentions to 26-year-old City captain Vincent Kompany, as they aim to land a long-term successor to Carles Puyol, who will soon celebrate his 35th birthday.

Similarly to Dortmund, City would be under no pressure to sell their skipper, especially given their immense financial power, and the fact that his current Eastlands deal has four years remaining on it.

However, as a politically respected figure at the club, Kompany’s wishes would be considered in light of any forthcoming bid, and if he wished to speak to the Catalans, he likely could.

As another point of their summer strategy meanwhile, Barcelona are now keen to keep David Villa at the Nou Camp, after it initially seemed they would allow him to move on.

Villa’s stance is currently unclear though, as he aims to guarantee himself more regular first-team football as he approaches the latter stages of his career.

And if he does seek a new challenge, Barca are ready to step up their interest in City striker Sergio Aguero, who is keen to return to Spain following the break-up of his marriage.

Indeed, Aguero is desperate to be closer to his son, who resides in Madrid, and the 24-year-old would seriously consider a switch to the Nou Camp should a £40m bid come to fruition.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.