Barça set to offer Dani Alves new deal as right-back hunt goes stale

Barça have made the right-back position an absolute priority. The club have been looking for a replacement for Dani Alves, who is nearly 32, and their top choice was Danilo. 

However, contact with his club, Porto, and his representatives has not been satisfactory. The opposite, in fact. 

It seems there are two clubs already negotiating for the player (Manchester United and Real Madrid) and the price, at more than €30million, is an amount Barça are inclined to steer away from. 

With Danilo discarded, Barça will look to reach an agreement with Alves, whose contract expires in the summer. 

Director of international football Ariedo Braida was in charge of finding a substitute for Alves, but now it seems like Barça will be obliged to open talks with the 31-year-old instead -- something they have not yet done. 

The Brazilian full-back has been listening to offers from Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and PSG in the meantime. 

Barça know he will not accept a one-year deal and will have to offer him two years, with the option of a third. They hope it will be an offer sufficiently attractive for Alves, who wants to stay in Catalonia. 

If all goes as planned, talks should begin in the next few days with Barça wanting to finalise a deal by the end of the month. 

Alves had looked more out than in at Barcelona in recent months. He would like a three year deal and will demand that when negotiations begin as there are clubs prepared to offer him that.  

However, he is happy at the club and that could be the clincher, while Luis Enrique continues to count on him.