Barcelona Transfer News: Douglas in Swap Rumours for Basketball Star Adam Hanga

Barcelona have reportedly offered right-back Douglas to newly promoted La Liga side Alaves in exchange for Adam Hanga, a basketball player currently plying his trade in Liga ACB for Laboral Kutxa. 

According to Sport, the president of both Alaves and Laboral Kutxa, Josea Querejeta, has reached a deal with Barcelona over the transfer of Hanga to the Catalan club and, in an intriguing move, requested a footballer for Alaves in return.

Per the report, Barca have offered up full-back Douglas, who they have already attempted to sell to Cruzeiro.

The 25-year-old Brazilian is expendable having played just three La Liga matches for Barcelona since his surprise move from Sao Paulo in 2014 for £3.2 million, per WhoScored.com.

As noted by Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe, Douglas' opportunities in 2016-17 under manager Luis Enrique are still likely to be limited despite the recent departure of Dani Alves, as Aleix Vidal and Sergi Roberto will now battle for the right-back spot:

Per Sport, the €1.5 million move to Brazilian side Cruzeiro collapsed because Douglas is eager to stay in Europe.

He would move to Alaves for free as part of the deal for Hanga and could surely be open to the prospect of more regular first-team opportunities in La Liga.

ALEXANDER NEMENOV/Getty Images

It is an unconventional move but one that could benefit all involved.

Barca would be able to get a fringe player off their books, while Alaves would add greater strength to their squad as they prepare to take on La Liga.

Douglas has never even been close to establishing himself in the first team at Barcelona. Per Fox Soccer's Aaron West, his move to the Camp Nou in 2014 "mystified" many given that he was not even the undisputed No. 1 right-back at Sao Paulo at the time.

However, he now has the opportunity to remain in La Liga and prove that he has the ability to make an impact at a smaller club.