Bayer Leverkusen could sign a former center-back from FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona is keeping an eye on the future of one of its former center-backs. Mikayil Faye, who left last summer for Stade Reims, could change clubs in January after a poor half-season in France. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the 20-year-old defender is one of the options Xabi Alonso is considering to strengthen the defense of a Bayer Leverkusen team that has struggled after its historic previous campaign.

The team remains in the title race for the Bundesliga (second, four points behind Bayern Munich) and within the TOP-24 of the UEFA Champions League with one match left in the league phase, but has faced serious defensive problems in recent weeks. The Bayer team has conceded 24 goals in 18 league matches and another 7 in the same number of appearances in Europe. In addition to Faye, the club has two other experienced center-backs in mind, according to Romano. 

Mika Faye has lost the confidence of coach Luka Elsner

For now, Mika's situation at Rennes is complex. Coach Luka Elsner has started him in seven of the nine Ligue 1 matches played by the defender, but his red card against Nantes (a 1-0 loss) seems to have condemned him for the rest of the season. The 20-year-old player has accumulated 665 minutes of action in 10 official matches, but has been left on the bench in another seven opportunities.

Reims paid 10.3 million euros to Barça for his transfer last summer, in an operation where the Catalan club retained 30% of a future sale. Unless something unexpected happens, Leverkusen would opt for a simple loan until the end of the 24-25 season if they decide to go for the Senegalese. If he performs well in Germany, Xabi Alonso's team could consider a permanent transfer to cover the imminent departure of Jonathan Tah.