Liverpool linked with loan move for Barcelona centre-back Yerry Mina

Liverpool have reportedly agreed a season-long loan move for Barcelona centre-back Yerry Mina.

The 23-year-old Colombian joined the Catalan side for around £12 million in January but has struggled for playing time, making just his fourth appearance earlier this week against Villarreal.

It’s claimed that Mina was not a signing that manager Ernesto Valverde sanctioned, and that he is now keen for the player to spend a year elsewhere; which would then free up a non-EU spot for Barcelona to add Brazilian midfielder Arthur to their squad.

The reports come from Colombian TV. They say that the two clubs have agreed a one year loan.

Of course, whether Liverpool complete that agreement is open to question, with clubs regularly lining up deals but not completing them. Centre-back is certainly likely to be high on Jurgen Klopp‘s wishlist this summer though.

The highly-rated centre-back stands at 6ft 5″ so would provide another commanding presence in Liverpool’s defence alongside Virgil van Djik.

Mina has been capped 10 times by Colombia and is expected to be part of their squad at the World Cup this summer.

“He’s an exceptional player,” says World Football Index‘s Colombian football journalist Simon Edwards.

“I haven’t seen a player like him for many, many years, in terms of his physicality and the way he bullies the opposition.

“He’s a very jovial, upbeat kind of guy. Dancing around, and lifting people in the dressing room, but he’s also a fierce competitor.”