Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is apparently set to rival former club Barcelona in the race to sign Shakhtar Donetsk's Darijo Srna in January.
Mundo Deportivo reports that the former Catalan player and manager is keen to bring Srna to the Etihad, despite the full-back entering the twilight of his playing career.
However, Guardiola will face stern competition from Luis Enrique's side to capture the 34-year-old in the winter transfer window as he looks to bolster his defensive options.
The 45-year-old is concerned over his City side's inability to consistently keep clean sheets in the Premier League, with 21 goals shipped in 17 matches to date.
Eight of those goals have come in the past four matches as the Citizens' defensive frailties have been taken advantage of, and Guardiola is reportedly ready to strengthen that area of the field, with the full-back areas of his team in need of particular additions.
Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy are all already available to Guardiola, but the Spaniard is believed to have reservations over all four being able to carry out his required tactics on the pitch.
Srna is alleged to have told the Donetsk hierarchy of his desire to leave Ukraine and finally secure a dream move to Barcelona - a move that would scupper any hopes of Guardiola enticing the right-back to Manchester - as Barcelona go in search of finding a solution to their own full-back problem at the Camp Nou.
Midfielder Sergi Roberto has had to play as an emergency right-back for the past three months after summer signing Aleix Vidal, who fell out of favour under Enrique earlier in the season, was not seen as the right successor to Juventus-bound Dani Alves.
However, City technical director Txiki Begiristain is still keeping tabs on Srna's situation and will hope to snatch the 134-time capped Croatia international from under the La Liga champions' noses.
Barcelona have been in regular contact with Srna and his representatives, though, and remain favourites to land him if Shakhtar grant his wish to allow him to leave.
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