Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Sergio Ramos and Aymen Abdennour Rumours

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is not set for a move to Barcelona despite recent reports linking him with a shock switch to the Camp Nou.

Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo sparked wild rumours recently when he claimed the La Liga champions had been offered the chance to sign the defender, per Spanish outlet Sport (h/t Sky Sports).

However, Rene Ramos, the player's agent and brother, has categorically denied any links with Real's staunch rivals, per Marca: "Sergio Ramos will never play for Barca."

The claim from Majo was that Ramos was offered as a campaigning tool that he could use as he goes for the Barcelona presidency, per La Liga writer Dermot Corrigan:

It always seemed like a ludicrous suggestion that 29-year-old Ramos, who has been at the Bernabeu since 2005, would cross the rarely traversed divide.

Indeed, current Camp Nou boss Luis Enrique is one of very few players to have moved from Los Blancos to archrivals Barca, and he is loathed in Madrid as a result.

A far more realistic centre-back target than Ramos for Barcelona is Monaco's Aymen Abdennour. According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t MailOnline's Luke Augustus), the 25-year-old Tunisian is being eyed by the Treble winners as "another Carles Puyol."

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Abdennour certainly raised his profile last season, putting in some eye-catching performances, with Bleacher Report's tactics expert Sam Tighe including him in his Champions League best XI of the tournament.

Subsequently, a number of top European clubs are interested in signing him this summer for a prospective £10 million, including Premier League duo Arsenal and Tottenham, per Augustus.

His suitors, including Barca, would have been encouraged by recent comments from Abdennour in which he said he was open to a new challenge, per French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Metro's Tom Olver):

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I am ready for anything. I’d love to play for big clubs. Why not leave so I can make more progress? I do not think everyone will leave. I am ready for anything. I trust my President and my director. They know me, I will not put pressure on them. We respect each other, we work as a family.

"

In terms of big clubs, it doesn't come much bigger than Barca, last season's Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey winners.

If they come knocking, Abdennour will surely be open to a move to the Camp Nou over another club. 

However, Barca are currently under a transfer ban until January, and if Monaco want to move Abdennour on this summer or he wants a quick departure, this could cause a problem for the Catalan giants.

Barca's defensive record was remarkable last season, as they conceded only 21 goals in La Liga. However, they are not the strongest depth-wise, and Abdennour could be a long-term option for them in the centre of defence.

Much like Puyol, Abdennour is a behemoth in defence, and his physicality could be a fine asset in a potentially rock-solid Barca defence.