Liverpool’s plans to sign highly-rated Spanish defender Marc Bartra have been rocked with speculation that Manchester City and Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have joined the race.
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The Barcelona man is attracting interest from various clubs in Europe, including Tottenham, and is available for less than £10million due to a release clause in his contract.
Bartra is currently behind Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano in the pecking order at the Camp Nou and could find himself relegated to fourth choice centre-back next season given Thomas Vermaelen’s return to fitness.
This has led to rumours that the 24-year-old could seek a move away from his boyhood club in the summer in a bid for first team football next season and is thought to be keen on playing in England.
Reports in Express Sport over the weekend revealed Liverpool and Spurs had made contact with Barcelona over a transfer, but according to talkSPORT it is understood that City and Bayern are now leading the race for the Spaniard.
A move to Germany would reunite Bartra with former boss Pep Guardiola, however, with competition for places in his position at the Allianz Arena fierce, it’s unlikely he would get much minutes there.
That would leave Manuel Pellegrini’s side in pole position and with the erratic form of Eliaquim Mangala last season, a place alongside captain Vincent Kompany at the heart of City’s defence could be filled by Bartra.
The Spaniard made just 14 La Liga apperances last term as the Catalan giants clinched an historic treble including the Champions League and Copa Del Rey titles.