Barcelona Transfer News: Kenedy, Marc Bartra, Claudio Bravo, Top Rumours

Barcelona are reportedly pondering a surprise move for Chelsea’s versatile youngster Kenedy, who is said to have impressed the Blaugrana hierarchy in his debut term with the Blues.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror) who have reported that the European champions’ chief scout, Ariedo Braida, wants to bring the Brazilian to the Camp Nou after they missed out on landing him last summer.

"Boss Luis Enrique was, according to Mundo Deportivo, reluctant to bring in Kenedy with La Masia products Munir and Sandro ready to break into the first-team squad," Malyon noted. "But with the Spanish pair, and particularly Sandro, unproductive when handed a chance in the senior side, Kenedy's name has resurfaced as an option for the Nou Camp club."

LLUIS GENE/Getty Images

While he’s rarely featured in the Chelsea side, there have been glimpses of undoubted quality from the 20-year-old, who has a fierce left foot, quick feet and a sharp turn of pace.

Lately, Guus Hiddink has opted to utilise him at left-back, too. Admittedly, the performances from Kenedy have been a little hit-and-miss in this unfamiliar role, although as football journalist Richard Buxton notes here, the youngster was more than happy to mix it with some experienced players:

Later in his career, he’ll surely be utilised regularly as a forward, but it’s brilliant experience for Kenedy to be pushed out of his comfort zone. That will only serve to aid his development, and the fact he’s taken things in his stride in the main will most likely appeal to Barcelona, who themselves often demand their academy talents be adaptable.

Naturally, with Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi occupying the front three spots at the moment, regular minutes would not be available for Kenedy at the Camp Nou. But there aren’t many better forwards to learn from than that trio, nor does the opportunity come around too often to play for a club of the Catalans’ calibre.

Marc Bartra, Claudio Bravo Linked with Manchester City

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Incoming Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has reportedly lined up two targets from his former club: centre-back Marc Bartra and veteran goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.

Adrian Kajumba of the Daily Mirror has suggested the coach wants a "reunion" with the out-of-favour defender at the Etihad Stadium, while Sport (h/t Sky Sports) have stated the Chilean stopper is also on his radar, with Bravo said to be keen on playing in the Champions League; Marc-Andre ter Stegen currently has that honour for the Blaugrana.

Bartra certainly needs a move, with Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jeremy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen all ahead of him in the centre-back pecking order. There’s no doubt he’s a talented footballer and, with the right guidance, could be a classy player; here is a look at what the Spaniard is capable of:

With a promotion for Ter Stegen inevitable further down the line, it would be no surprise if Bravo was thinking about the future, too.

Overall he’s been superb for Barcelona, offering a sturdy presence at the base of a team that is geared up to play cavalier, attacking football. The Chile international is so adept at commanding his area, pulling off decisive saves and, as this statistic from WhoScored.com’s Ben McAleer illustrates, sweeping up danger:

For Guardiola, they are sensible targets. As he seeks to impinge his mantras on this City team, he’ll want footballers who, despite the requisite qualities for their position, are extremely comfortable on the ball.

PAU BARRENA/Getty Images

Both Bartra and Bravo tick that box, and it’s easy to see a scenario where both players may be moved on this summer, especially the former. City need reinforcements at the back, with their reliance on Vincent Kompany badly exposed this term, and while Joe Hart is a quality goalkeeper, Bravo is better tailored to the way Guardiola wants his team to operate.