FC Barcelona have been following the left-back Pervis Estupiñán, who is on loan at Osasuna from Premier League side Watford, according to Diario de Navarra.
Estupiñán, 22, has been linked with several other European clubs in recent weeks, includ ing Atletico Madrid and Manchester United.
The Ecuador international is on a two-year loan at Osasuna but Watford have an option to call him back this summer. According to reports, Barça are prepared to pay 10 million euros for the defender but could then loan him out themselves — likely to Real Valladolid.
However, Osasuna have not given up hope of keeping Estupiñán around and have proposed an improved deal to ensure they keep him for a second season.
One factor in Osasuna’s favour is that he will not count as an EU player for a few months yet as he hasn’t completed five seasons in Spain — he has also been on loan at Granada, Almeria and Mallorca.
Quique Setien put Estupiñán’s name forward as Barça look for a left-back to provide competition for Jordi Alba and cover the vacancy left by Junior Firpo, who the club hope to sell.
Reports in England have linked Estupiñán with United. “It fills me with pride, but I am not aware (of their interest),” he said a while back, recognising that “all players want to play for the biggest clubs.”