Pep Guardiola out to beat Barcelona to signing of Manchester City solution to defensive problem

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen on signing experienced right-back Darijo Srna, but will have to see off competition from Barcelona.

The full-back positions have been an issue so far this season for City, with Guardiola rotating between Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna on the right while Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov will eventually need to be replaced on the left too.

Although it isn’t exactly a long-term solution given that Srna turns 35 next year, it’s claimed by Mundo Deportivo that Guardiola is keen on taking him to Manchester.

It will be tricky though as the Croatian international is believed to have informed Shakhtar Donetsk that he wishes to move to Barcelona, a transfer that he has been hopeful of for many years.

However, according to the report, City technical director Txiki Begiristain is set to monitor the situation and will look to take advantage of any weaknesses in Barcelona’s offer to try and persuade Srna to leave the Ukraine after 13 years and become a vital part of Guardiola’s short-term push for success at the Etihad.

It’s added that Barca are in constant contact with the experienced international and so evidently Luis Enrique will be confident about their chances of securing his signature. Ultimately, he is the ideal signing in terms of what the Spaniard is looking for and it appears as though it’s merely a matter of time before he moves to the Camp Nou.

Nevertheless, the appeal of playing for Guardiola and in the Premier League is something that can’t be ignored, and so there will be an interesting few days ahead prior to the January transfer window opening to determine where Srna will see out his playing career.

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