Laporta makes Pedro Porro Barcelona’s preferred defensive solution

Barcelona have identified Tottenham Hotspur full-back Pedro Porro as their leading option should they decide to enter the January transfer market, with four defenders currently unavailable through injury.

Eric Garcia, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Chadi Riad have all suffered injuries in recent weeks, leaving the coaching staff facing an unprecedented defensive shortage. The situation has prompted the club’s hierarchy to examine possible reinforcements during the winter window.

However, no final decision has yet been made. Spanish broadcaster 3cat, citing sources inside Barcelona, reports that the club want to wait for further updates on the injured players. Medical assessments indicate that none of the four is expected to be out for an extended period.

If Barcelona do decide to recruit, club president Joan Laporta has a clear personal preference in Porro. The 26-year-old, who was born in Extremadura and previously played for Girona, has become one of Laporta’s favoured targets after impressing for both club and country.

Porro’s performances for Spain have been central to the president’s interest. The right-back was one of the key members of the national side that won the World Cup last summer, establishing himself as a starter from the team’s second match.

He also formed an effective partnership on Spain’s right flank with Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal. Porro made a direct contribution to the triumph by scoring two important goals, including one in the historic semi-final against France.

Sources say Laporta watched that semi-final in person at a stadium in Dallas and was left with an exceptionally positive impression of Porro. That view was reinforced when he saw the defender perform in the World Cup final.

Barcelona made summer checks

Porro signed a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur immediately before the World Cup, a development that would make any potential deal more complicated and expensive for Barcelona.

Despite that obstacle, the Catalan club made preliminary checks on the player and his representatives during the final weeks of the previous summer transfer window, when strengthening the defence was already under consideration.

Those contacts did not progress beyond an exploratory stage. Barcelona have not submitted a formal offer to Porro or Tottenham Hotspur, but the defender is now at the top of Laporta’s list if the club decides to act next January.

The fixture information accompanying the report lists Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace and Barcelona’s La Liga meeting with Deportivo Alaves, both scheduled for 31 October 2026.