Barcelona had to broaden their search in the winter transfer market following the serious injury sustained by Danish defender Andreas Christensen, which is expected to keep him sidelined for up to four months, according to the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo.

According to the newspaper, Barcelona's priority is to sign a central defender capable of playing on the left side, preferably left-footed, to meet coach Hans Flick's preference. However, the difficulty of finding a player with these specifications, along with good quality and low cost, has led the club to consider other alternatives.

The newspaper pointed out that the sports management is considering the option of signing a defensive midfielder who can also play as a center-back, providing the coaching staff with greater tactical flexibility and allowing the possibility of returning Eric Garcia to his original position in the backline when needed.

The report explained that Barcelona prefers to sign a dedicated central defender; however, the limited options available in the winter transfer market have led the club to consider other possibilities, including experienced defenders or younger players, while evaluating several names that fit the team's current needs.

The report confirmed that expanding the search to include defensive midfielders capable of playing as center-backs could give Barcelona greater opportunities to find a suitable solution to compensate for Christensen's absence, given the market complexities and budget constraints.