Srna is Barcelona's first option to replace Aleix Vidal

Srna is Barcelona's first option to replace Aleix Vidal

Luis Enrique and Robert Fernandez are looking at a short-term option to replace the right-back

Darijo Srna is not the only right-back option Barcelona are looking at for January, but he’s the best placed to join the club at the moment. Barça have made contact with the player and his entourage to sound out if he’d be willing to leave Shakhtar Donetsk for a new adventure. The answer was clear: the Croatian full-back says he would be free to leave the Ukraine side for Camp Nou. After the previous contact, sources inside the Catalan club have confirmed there will be a small meeting with the player and his agent to finalise the finer details of a possible transfer. 

THE CONTRACT BATTLE 

Negotiations are still at an early phase, but everything has served to reveal starting points. Barça need to sign a defender who can adapt immediately and at a low cost. A short-term operation which would allow talks to continue for a new signing next summer, with Joao Cancelo then an option. However, Srna presents a small problem. He wants to sign for the rest of the campaign and for two seasons more. That’s to say, a contract until 2019. Barça feel that’s a little too demanding and that it would be normal to sign until the end of the season with an option for a further year depending on variables between now and then. They’re details which have still not been deeply analysed and are awaiting a resolution. Srna offers experience, can get up and down the flank and is a born winner. He’s a sure bet in the short-term. 

ALEIX VIDAL 

Despite sporting director Robert Fernandez’s careful quotes, the exit of Aleix Vidal seems a certainty. His destination has not been defined but Barça are working on the premise that they need to fill the vacancy to maintain the balance in the squad. In principle, he will leave once a replacement is signed. On Tuesday, he had to come out and deny that he’d contacted Sevilla to force through a Camp Nou exit. The still Barcelona player said that he had not called sporting director Monchi. Barça have interest from clubs in Vidal, while they’re also in talks with Srna. Everything is on track but nothing is closed.