Report: Barcelona view United's Darmian as low-price alternative

Barcelona are reportedly monitoring out-of-favor Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian as a low-cost backup plan to other left-back targets.

The Catalans have been linked with first-choice full-backs Junior Firpo, Philipp Max, and David Alaba, but Darmian has now landed on their radar, too, according to ESPN UK's Moises Llorens and Sam Marsden.

Ernesto Valverde is apparently pushing for Real Betis' Firpo, and his hope is an addition is made prior to the club's trip to the United States next Monday to play Napoli.

Darmian, 29, has a year left on his current terms at Old Trafford and has largely been frozen out of the first team with a scant six league appearances last season, his fewest for the club since making the £16-million switch from Torino in 2015.

The 36-time capped Italian international can play at both full-back positions, and with Valverde looking to shift Sergi Roberto into a midfield role, Darmian's addition would give Jordi Alba some much-needed competition at left-back and also provide a far cheaper alternative to Firpo, Alaba, or Max. As it stands, Alba, 30, is the only senior left-back currently in Valverde's squad.