Barcelona are rumoured to be eyeing up shock moves for Bayern Munich pair David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich.
The defensive duo are just two of the names at the top of the La Liga giants' transfer targets as they go in search of adding fresh blood to their ageing first-team squad.
Alaba is reportedly being lined as one of three defenders that Barcelona would like to bring to the Nou Camp, according to El Mundo Deportivo, while the same paper also claims that Kimmich could be the subject of a bid to become Barca's new defensive enforcer in the centre of the park.
Versatile Austria international Alaba has previously been mooted as a transfer target for the Catalan club. The 24-year-old is seen as a potential replacement for outcast Aleix Vidal, who has not featured for Barcelona since September despite being signed as a long-term successor to the departed Dani Alves.
Vidal's attitude and below-par displays have seen him ousted from Luis Enrique's starting line up, with midfielder Sergi Roberto deployed as an auxiliary right back over the past two months.
Alaba, who is comfortable playing in multiple positions on the pitch, could potentially slot in at right-back for Barcelona and, along with Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte and Paris Saint-German's Marquinhos, could be pursued by Barcelona as defensive reinforcements in the coming transfer window.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Kimmich is also being linked for a move to Spain. The Germany international is seen as potential competition to star man Sergio Busquets, with the Spaniard the only recognised defensive midfielder in Barcelona's ranks.
Kimmich started out as a right-back before moving to Bayern from Stuttgart in July 2015 but, under former Bayern boss Pep Guardiola, was moved into a more central role - a position he has excelled at ever since. Barcelona are now apparently looking at Kimmich as one of five options to bring in to compete with Busquets in midfield, with Sevilla's Steven N'Zonzi, Ajax's Riechedly Bazoer, Boca Juniors' Sebastien Perez and Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl also on their shortlist.
Should Barcelona attempt to prise either star from the Allianz Arena, however, they will have to pay top dollar for two of Bayern's prized assets, with the pair contracted until June 2021 and June 2020 respectively.
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