Barcelona's Yerry Mina Linked with Liverpool Loan Transfer in Latest Rumours

Liverpool are reportedly poised to sign Barcelona centre-back Yerry Mina on loan next season. 

According to El Chiringuito's Ignacio Miguelez (h/t the Daily Mirror), the Reds are closing in on a deal for the Colombian, who only made the switch to Barcelona in the January window.

"There is a player who has already closed his future for next year, and it is Mina, the Colombian will play on loan at Liverpool," he said.

Mina made the switch to the Camp Nou from Palmeiras, and he's struggled to get regular games for the Blaugrana in 2018. He's made just two starts in La Liga and played a total of 190 minutes.

According to Sport, Barcelona are finalising their summer transfer plans, although they have yet to make a choice on whether to keep Mina around or loan him out for the 2018-19 term. However, it's added they would prefer to see the defender stay in Spain.

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"If he does go on loan, Barca have two priorities," the report said. "The first is that it must be a La Liga side. The club want Mina to get to know the Spanish league to later help his adaption at Camp Nou. The other priority is that it must be a team that plays with a back four—for the same reasons."

Sport reported Sevilla are pushing to get a deal completed for Mina, while Villarreal, Celta Vigo and Valencia also hold an interest in the player.

Rafael Hernandez of Grup14 believes the 23-year-old should be getting more opportunities at the Camp Nou than he is:

Mina is the fourth-choice centre-back at Barcelona, with Thomas Vermaelen the main back-up to Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti.

Mina's future could depend on what happens to the club's France international defender, as he has been regularly linked with a move away from Barcelona. As Juan Manuel Diaz of Sport noted, Umtiti has a €60 million (£53 million) clause in his contract, and Manchester United are said to be interested in matching it.

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That would leave Barcelona short of options at the back, and manager Ernesto Valverde would surely be more hesitant about letting Mina go.

At Liverpool, he may struggle to get in the side regularly. As noted by Dominic King of the Daily Mail, Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk have been excellent as of late:

Additionally, the Reds have Joel Matip to come back from injury. Veteran Ragnar Klavan is also an experienced option to call on, while Joe Gomez can play in the centre.

At this point, a move to Anfield would make little sense for Mina. He should be looking to continue his development in Spain, whether that be with the Blaugrana or another club in the upper reaches of La Liga.