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Barcelona defender Gerard Martin has reportedly agreed a new contract with the club. The 22-year-old's current deal runs out in the summer.
Martin made his first-team debut at the Camp Nou this season, registering two assists in 14 games across competitions. He has provided one assist in La Liga - where Barca are third - and the UEFA Champions League - where Hansi Flick's side are second.
Gerard Martin, along with Robert Lewandowski, Inigo Martinez and Wojciech Szcezesny, are on expiring contracts this summer. However, as per Mundo Deportivo (via Barca Universal), Martin is set to put pen to paper on a new deal that would have a release clause of €100 million. The new deal is expected to be till 2028.
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Despite playing only his first senior season with the La Liga giants, Martin has established himself as a key first-team player under new boss Hansi Flick, who arrived at the helm last summer.
Among the aforementioned quartet, Lewandowski and Martinez are near certainties to stay at the Camp Nou beyond the summer. However, Szczesny's future at the club depends on the availability of the injured No. 1 Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the new season.
What's next for Barcelona?
Barcelona have had a bright start to life under new boss Hansi Flick, who had replaced the legendary Xavier Hernandez at the start of the season. However, the early runaway pacesetters have seemingly run out steam, especially in La Liga.
As mentioned above, the Blaugrana are third in the standings after 19 games, trailing leaders Atletico Madrid (41) by three points. Coming off successive league losses - including a 2-1 home defeat to Atletico in their previous outing - Flick's side will look to return to winning ways when they travel to UD Barbastro in their Copa del Rey opener on Saturday (January 4).
Two weeks later - on January 18 - they return to La Liga action against Getafe away before resuming their UEFA Champions League campaign at Benfica on January 21.
