Barcelona Transfer News: Glen Johnson Move Backed by Luis Suarez, Latest Rumours

Luis Suarez has reportedly backed former Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson to join him at Barcelona following speculation the Blaugrana could launch a winter move for the Stoke City right-back.

Johnson and Suarez were "close friends" during their time together at Anfield, according to MailOnline's Pete Jenson, not to mention the fact he's understood to boast "some grasp of the Spanish language."

Jenson also included a quote from Suarez's autobiography, where he heaped praise on Johnson: "He impressed me hugely. He has a combination of physical strength, power and intelligence and technically he’s so good that despite being right footed he shoots better off of his left foot."

Suffice to say Johnson, 32, who arrived at the Bet365 Stadium last year, is an odd target for La Liga's defending champions, and TalkSport's Adrian Durham recently showed a vast majority of more than 5,000 voters in a poll agreed:

Barcelona are understood to be examining new recruits at right-back after £16 million signing Aleix Vidal hasn't worked out as hoped during his short stay at the club—he arrived at the Camp Nou from Sevilla in the summer of 2015.

Midfielder Sergi Roberto has instead occupied the position following Dani Alves' summer departure to Juventus, and BigSport illustrated exactly how absurd rumours of a move for Johnson appear:

Stoke may find it difficult to keep their defender should speculation prove genuine, however, considering Johnson's in the final year of his contract and may never get the opportunity to make such a move again.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Sport) reported Juventus veteran Stephan Lichtsteiner is also a target for the Blaugrana, and the Swiss has something in common with Johnson in that his deal is also coming to an end.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Pete Smith of the Stoke Sentinel wrote the Potters are hopeful of extending Johnson's stay beyond next summer, although Barca's hunt for a Vidal replacement could see the Englishman reject their offer.

Meanwhile, the father of Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes has addressed rumours of European interest in his son.

Speaking to Portuguese newspaper A Bola (h/t Ciaran Kelly of the Manchester Evening News), Gil Gomes said: "The important thing is that Angel continues to have all this pleasure in playing football. I don't deny that many clubs ask me about him, but that's what he always says... the next dream is to play for Manchester United's first team, a club where he has been growing."

Gomes, 16, recently became the youngest player in 15 years to score a hat-trick for United's academy, per Kelly's report, and it seems the Red Devils can count on his loyalties for a little longer.

Barcelona are among the teams linked with a move for the England under-17 international, whose next move is to follow the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard into United's first-team setup.