#4 Left Back: Jose Gaya/Alex Grimaldo
Make no mistake, Jordi Alba is an excellent player and is one of the best left backs in the world at the moment. Alba’s almost telepathic connection with Lionel Messi has been instrumental in Barcelona’s domestic success last season and is still going strong. Having said that, it would be almost impossible to expect Jordi Alba to maintain his fitness and performance levels for the whole of the season. Therefore, a backup to Jordi Alba should be a priority in Barcelona’s transfer plans, given Marc Cucurella, the other Left Back in the squad is relatively inexperienced and is an unknown quantity. While FC Barcelona does not seem to be actively looking for a Left Back (going by the lack of rumors), Jose Gaya and Alex Grimaldo present themselves as interesting options for Barcelona.
Jose Gaya has been on the radar of some of the biggest clubs for some time now, and it wouldn’t be long before he moves on from Valencia. Gaya is a pace merchant and has been impressive playing on the left of Valencia’s back line. Gaya’s impressive form led to Spain National Team coach, Luis Enrique calling him up for UEFA Nations League match against Croatia, where the fullback impressed with his direct running and attacking intent.
Alex Grimaldo, a La Masia product, is an equally exciting prospect. Grimaldo, 23, plies his trade in Portugal and has been impressive for Benfica. Grimaldo’s familiarity with Barcelona’s philosophy and his superb passing skills make him an ideal option for Barcelona should they feel the need to strengthen the left side of their defense.
Transfer Probability: 3/10