TRANSFER NEWS: LUCAS HERNANDEZ THE LATEST ATLETICO MADRID PLAYER ON BARCELONA RADAR

Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Atletico Madrid centre-back Lucas Hernandez in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by Spanish publication Don Balon, Antoine Griezmann isn’t the only Atletico Madrid superstar that Barcelona are after. The Blaugrana have also set their sights on Lucas Hernandez, and are plotting a summer move for the versatile defender.

Lucas Hernandez progressed through the ranks at Atletico Madrid before breaking into the first-team setup in 2014. But, he enjoyed his true breakthrough in the 2015-16 season, and has since consistently grown in stature at the club.

This season, Lucas Hernandez has made 30 appearances across all competitions till date, and has contributed to his team’s cause with three goals as well. It has been his versatility that has truly been an asset for Atletico Madrid, and the player has now caught the attention of Los Rojiblancos’ rivals Barcelona.

Barcelona did bolster their defence in January by signing Yerry Mina from Palmeiras. But, the Colombian was a direct replacement for Javier Mascherano, who moved to Hebei China Fortune in the winter.

But, the fact that Gerard Pique and Thomas Vermaelen are on the wrong side of 30 is not lost on Ernesto Valverde. With Samuel Umtiti the only other centre-back at the disposal of the Barcelona manager, Lucas Hernandez is a viable target for Barcelona to pursue.

What further makes the Atletico Madrid defender an attractive prospect for Barcelona is that he can be a cover on the left side of defence as well. With Lucas Digne being linked with a move away from Camp Nou, Lucas Hernandez could also be a backup for Jordi Alba, if he joins the Catalan club.

The bone of contention for the player though, will be that he will have to bide his time for a while like Yerry Mina, with Pique and Umtiti likely to be the first-choice central defensive partnership next season as well.

Barcelona though, will look to use Antoine Griezmann, who they believe is set to move to Camp Nou in the summer, to turn Lucas’ head. It now remains to be seen if they can indeed make a double raid on Atletico Madrid in the summer transfer window, or if Lucas Hernandez ends up staying at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Read more: http://www.thehardtackle.com/news/2018/03/13/transfer-news-lucas-hernandez-the-latest-atletico-madrid-player-on-barcelona-radar/