Barcelona Transfer News: Dani Alves Talks Planned Amid Manchester United Rumours

Despite being in the hunt for three trophies in the final months of this campaign, Barcelona are already apparently planning for next season. According to reports, as part of those preparations, one of the club’s primary objectives is to tie Dani Alves down to a new deal, potentially scuppering any move to Manchester United.

According to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, the club’s director of international football, Ariedo Braida, and manager Luis Enrique will start planning the foundations for next season imminently. The piece suggests both men feel as though “they should renew” the Brazilian’s deal and will offer him a new two-year contract this week.

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Here’s a look at why Alves is rated as one of the best full-backs around:

As noted by Tom Olver of Metro, the Brazilian has been linked with a host of European football’s most illustrious sides, including the Red Devils, Arsenal and Liverpool. His current deal with the Blaugrana is due to expire at the end of the season, meaning he could potentially sign a pre-contract agreement with any side at this juncture.

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The 31-year-old remains a regular fixture in this Barcelona side despite the uncertainty surrounding his future and his advancing years. It does seem as though the discussions are having an adverse effect on his on-field performances after he turned in a terrible first-half display against Real Madrid recently.

But Alves was still able to produce a moment of quality that changed the game, setting up the winning goal for Luis Suarez with a superb long pass, per Ben Hayward of Goal:

It’s easy to see why a host of sides may be keen on signing Alves on a free transfer. He remains an eminent offensive threat from his right-back berth, and having sampled so much success with Barcelona down the years, he has experience aplenty he could pass on to future team-mates.

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Barcelona should do their utmost to keep him on board, though. The defender would be a perilously difficult player to replace in normal circumstances, but given the transfer sanctions currently levied at the club and the fact that Martin Montoya’s future also remains in doubt, per Will Giles of Metro, they could feasibly be without a senior right-back should Alves walk out the door.

With Barcelona also poised to lose longtime figures like Xavi Hernandez and Pedro in the summer, per Miguelsanz's piece, having someone around like Alves who has been at the club for a sustained period will be vital to preserving some stability at the Camp Nou.

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He's a player who helps bring out the best in others too. As noted by Selecao Brasileira during Alves’ excellent recent performance against Manchester City in the Champions League, the defender links up superbly with Lionel Messi on the right-hand side:

"

Dani Alves has been outstanding, especially in attack, reminder of the old Alves. No one understands Messi better than he does.

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) March 18, 2015"

For United, the chance to sign a player of Alves’ pedigree would naturally be appealing. But Louis van Gaal needs to bring in a younger defender capable of occupying that right-back slot who will grow alongside players like Luke Shaw, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones for years to come. As talented as Alves is, he’d only be a short-term fix.

From the player’s perspective, a lucrative move may be appealing. After all, Alves has won everything in Barcelona and will surely savour more silverware before the season is out. But he’s an emotional character who has a real affinity with the Blaugrana, and as such, it’d be a big surprise if he was to plunge them in the mire by walking away.