According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is keen to strengthen his back line this summer, and to that end, the Catalan club have expressed an interest in Nico Schlotterbeck and Julian Ryerson, both currently plying their trade at Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund signed Ryerson from Union Berlin three years ago, paying €5million for the services of the right-back. Now 28, the Norway international has a contract devised to keep him at the Signal Iduna Park for two more seasons.
Meanwhile, the situation is a bit more complicated when it comes to Schlotterbeck. The 26-year-old centre-back will enter the final year his contract with Dortmund this summer, but he’s been attracting interest from other top clubs as well, namely Liverpool, and Barcelona’s arch-rivals, Real Madrid.
This report, it should be said, comes at a very interesting moment – in the very week when the Champions League knockout stages begin. Barcelona and Liverpool have already booked their places in the round of 16, while Real Madrid and Dortmund face Benfica and Atalanta, respectively, in the play-off round.
This seems to be a regular occurrence when it comes to the media in Spain, linking Real and Barcelona with players from other clubs still in UEFA’s elite club competition at this stage.