Barcelona Transfer Rumours: Daniel Agger Would Be Ideal Fit for Barca

Barcelona are not a club without flaws, despite cruising to the La Liga title last season. One area of concern is the back line. Daniel Agger would go a long way toward filling that void, but prying him away from Liverpool would be a challenge.

John Cross of the Daily Mirror reports Barcelona are interested in the center back after struggling to make progress in talks for Thiago Silva and David Luiz. Finding a player in the right price range has been the biggest hurdle.

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Barcelona have targeted Liverpool's Daniel Agger to beef up their defence.

The Spanish giants have had a new approach for David Luiz knocked back, with Chelsea insisting the Brazil star is not for sale this summer.

Barca have also gone for Paris Saint-Germain's Thiago Silva and Roma's Marquinhos—who has now moved to PSG—only to be quoted big money they do not have after their huge outlay on forward Neymar.

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Barca are preparing to offer £12 million in an attempt to land the Danish international, according to Antony Kastrinakis of The Sun. But it's also stated Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers would battle to ensure the defender stays at Anfield.

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Rodgers is certain to rebuff the La Liga outfit’s advances—particularly given Jamie Carragher’s retirement last term.

Liverpool have snapped up Kolo Toure on a free from Manchester City but Rodgers will be loath to lose Agger as it would upset his plans in the middle of his pre-season.

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The apparent stances of both clubs are understandable. Barcelona need an experienced defender capable of providing depth ahead of another busy campaign. Agger is a reliable veteran who can step right in and make an impact at Camp Nou.

On the flip side, Liverpool are focused on bouncing back after a disappointing campaign. Agger is a key part of that process after establishing himself as a top-tier center back during the last eight seasons with the Reds.

Although that doesn't mean Barcelona should abandon the pursuit, it does set the table for an extended transfer saga if Barca decide to act on their interest.

That said, Agger would be worth the investment for the La Liga powerhouse. Finding a way to bolster the back line at a reasonable price is paramount before the window closes. The 28-year-old defender appears to strike the perfect balance in that respect.

Having spent so much time in the Premier League, he would be able to move to La Liga without missing a beat. That's an advantage over players from smaller leagues, who would have to go through a transition period before Barca would feel comfortable using them in big matches.

Agger is a solid defender with a high-level understanding of the game and has come a long way in limiting his mistakes at the back. He's also shown the ability to move forward to help the attack when needed with a booming shot.

His ability to jump-start attacks with good distribution skills from the back would also fit well in the Barcelona system. He's an all-around good fit.

That's also why Liverpool are wise to do everything in their power to keep him. Rodgers would struggle mightily to replace him before the new campaign got underway, leaving a hole at the back, which is a potential disaster.

All told, Agger makes a lot of sense for Barcelona, but it sounds like they face an uphill battle to reach an agreement.