Barcelona are closing in on their first January signing as they look to sign a replacement for the outgoing Javier Mascherano, according to Sport via TEAMtalk.
Mascherano is keen to gain more playing time in the months leading up to the 2018 World Cup, with the former Liverpool man struggling for regular action at Camp Nou.
The 33-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Hebei Fortune next month and Barcelona have lined up Colombian Yerry Mina as a replacement for Mascherano.
The 23-year-old centre-back has been a rumoured Barcelona target for some time now as they look to strengthen at the back.
Mina made only 15 Brasileirao appearances for Palmeiras last season, but impressed to earn a WhoScored rating of 7.19.
An average of 60.6 passes per game was better than any other defender in Brazil’s top tier last season to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘passing’.
It’s reported that Barcelona will pay €9m to secure Mina’s services when the transfer window reopens.
