German outlet Sport1 recently reported that Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka, whose contract expires in the summer.
The French centre-back is now waiting for the Catalan giants to proceed with the negotiations, as he is keen on switching to Camp Nou.
Ndicka was wanted by several top European clubs, but it appears Barca have won the race.
The Catalan giants have adopted the policy of signing free agents in recent years to cope with their financial crisis.
The trend will likely continue in the summer transfer window and beyond until their finances are stabilised.
The strategy has paid off, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Eric Garcia, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen being perfect examples.
Ndicka could be next in line, and the biggest question is whether he is ready to make a giant leap to a club like Barca.
Ndicka – an underrated defender who can bring a lot to the table
Ndicka joined Frankfurt in 2018 from second-tier French club Auxerre and has since made significant progress in his career.
Helping Frankfurt finish fifth in the Bundesliga in the 2020/21 campaign and lift the Europa League last season, Ndicka has established himself as one of the best young defenders in Europe.
Playing as left side centre-back in a three-man defence, the Frenchman is known for his physicality and pace, which helps him win defensive duels and recover the ball quickly.
Barcelona need a left-footed centre-back in their squad, and Ndicka would be a top addition.
The French youngster’s form in recent times is not up to the mark, but he has plenty of years ahead to develop into one of the best players in his position.
He will have to work on the possession side of his game, and there is no better place than Barca to master that art.
Barca have been searching for a replacement for Gerard Pique, who hung up his boots a few months ago.
Signing Ndicka for free would undoubtedly be another great piece of business from Barca.
