The right-back spot isn't the only position that Barcelona are looking to strengthen as a busy few transfer months await the Catalan club.
Darijo Srna of Shakhtar Donetsk is being monitored, as is Joao Cancelo of Valencia, and the right-back position is still the most pressing, meaning the Blaugrana are already underway in exploring their options for the January window.
The Sergi Roberto experiment has gone well, but Luis Enrique still prefers him in midfield and thus feel a signing is necessary, whereas Aleix Vidal looks like he is on his way out.
However, three summer transfers are expected on top of that, with another centre-back and perhaps a midfielder increasingly likely.
Jeremy Mathieu's injuries and general play have prevented the Frenchman from featuring more, and his reliability as a squad player is dwindling with his age.
In Samuel Umtiti and Gerard Pique Barcelona have an established centre-back pairing, but Javier Mascherano isn't getting any younger so back-up defenders are needed.
More worringly, Andres Iniesta still has no replacement in midfield, and recent signings like Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez have yet to take over and dominate games like the Manchego.
The midfield is going through a period of serious change, and Barcelona may look to incorporate yet another new face to adapt to this challenge.