Barcelona are apparently looking to secure Inter Milan‘s Marcelo Brozovic in the summer, despite being able to sign players in the January transfer window, according to reports.

After 18 months of being unable to spend even a single euro on incoming transfers, the marketplace opens up to the Catalans once more on January 1, 2016.

A handful of names have been linked with the club over recent weeks, but a new name that is doing the rounds is that of Brozovic, of whom not a great deal is known. Arsene’s Son provided a Brozovic highlight via Twitter:

Corriere Dello Sport via Sport note that the central midfielder is on sporting director Robert Fernandez’s radar, and at 23 years of age, the Croatian represents exactly the type of signing Barcelona are now going after.

Young players with huge potential who will either set La Liga alight or be sold on at a profit at a later date.

Indeed, a whole host of clubs are reported to be interested and will no doubt still be so if things don’t work out at Barca, should that be the player’s next destination.

Sport name Sevilla, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur as four who will take the player given encouragement by his representatives and Inter themselves. The Sun reported “Jose Mourinho’s sacking” could offer potential assistance in landing Brozovic:

With Ivan Rakitic already in-situ and Alen Halilovic not yet sold, despite enjoying a stellar campaign for Sporting de Gijon, the lure for Brozovic is obvious.

In a team chock-full of world stars, the youngster will be made to feel right at home, thanks to the connection with his countrymen. Feeling settled and “at home” in your surroundings is one part of a transfer that should never be understated.

Given that Rafinha is likely to be back from injury in the summer, Sergi Roberto has finally made a name for himself, Sergi Samper and others are emerging and Arda Turan will have had six months or so under his belt, what can Brozovic bring to the party that enables him to be considered a useful acquisition?

For a start, he is comfortable in all of the midfield positions with no real drop-off in quality.

If he’s not to be a starter straight away, then he is a decent reserve to have coming off the bench anywhere across the middle of the park.

That kind of versatility is invaluable for any manager and would perhaps allow Luis Enrique to consider rotations more regularly once more.

He isn’t frightened of putting a foot in if needed and although not the finished article, certainly has attributes that can be enhanced and developed to suit.

Not shy of the defensive side of the game either, Brozovic will get put in a shift, endearing him to management and team-mates alike.

It is perhaps in this area where his assistance would be mostly required. To break up play and recycle quick ball, allowing Barca’s attackers to go about their work with relative ease.

Brozovic will chip in and support the attack when required, and he’s been known to score the odd goal or two, but given Rakitic performs the supporting role admirably, it’s unlikely Brozovic will usurp his countryman.

The biggest obstacle to the transfer eventually taking place as any event would appear to be the player’s current arrangement.

On loan at Dinamo Zagreb, where his form has brought him wider acclaim, his registration can stay with the Croatians if they decide to take up an option to make the deal permanent. Something that Inter would appear keen for them to do.

That in itself should actually sound a few alarm bells, given that he only joined the Italians at this time last year.

Further, despite the qualities the player can bring, do Barcelona really want to spend good money on someone who isn’t going to be a regular starter?

Developing for the future is all well and good but isn’t that exactly what La Masia is for?

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