Barcelona are dealt a transfer blow with summer target Juan Foyth ‘unlikely’ to join the Spanish giants from Villarreal this summer... as Xavi and Co set their sights on a new right-back for next season

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Barcelona have been hit with a blow in their search for a new right-back, with Juan Foyth unlikely to join the club in the summer. 

The Spanish giants have been searching for a long-term replacement ever since Dani Alves left the club in 2016, but have struggled to find a suitable replacement for the Brazilian club legend. 

Nelson Semedo, now at Wolves, and Sergio Dest currently on-loan in Serie A with AC Milan, have been unsuccessful signings in the position, while academy product Sergio Roberto has failed to make the position his own. 

Currently, Jules Kounde is the club's first choice right-back, but the French star's preference is to play as a central defender. Leading to Barcelona President Joan Laporta confirming this week that a natural full-back will be targeted this summer. 

One the club's reported main targets is Villarreal's Argentine right-back Juan Foyth.  However, the Catalans have yet to enter talks with the 25-year-old and Sport are reporting that Villarreal are unlikely to want to negotiate with Barca. 

Juan Foyth is a target for Barcelona but is unlikely to move to the Nou Camp this summer 

Barcelona president Joan Laporta confirmed this week that the club want a new full-back 

It would mean the LaLiga leaders would have to meet Foyth's release clause - believed to be around €60million - which given the club's financial state would make the transfer very difficult to complete. 

Foyth moved to the Yellow Submarine on-loan in 2020, after failing to establish himself in the first team at Tottenham. The transfer was made permanent a year later, and he has become a key player for the club. The defender was also part of Argentina's World Cup winning squad in December. 

Laporta's admission of the club's need for a new full-back, also puts three other names in the frame as targets, all of which Barcelona have been in contact with according to Mundo Deportivo. 

Bayern Munich's Benjamin Pavard remains high on their wish list and is out of contract in 2024. However, the French World Cup winner recently stated he was happy in Germany. 

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier is a player who Barcelona have previously tried to sign and with his contract up in 2024, are said to have enquired about a possible transfer this summer. 

Another option could be Manchester United's Diogo Dalot, who is also out of contract in 2024 and is yet to sign any new deal with Erik ten Hag's side. 

Xavi's side are currently lead the LaLiga table by six points and could extend that lead further if they beat Atletico Bilbao on Sunday evening.  

Jules Kounde is the club's current right-back but prefers to play in the middle of defence