Belhadj to replace Abidal in Barcelona

Spanish Catalon radio station « Catalunya Ràdio » said Barcelona has been considering signing Portsmouth left back defender and Algerian International Nadir Belhadj 26 years old, in January.  

• Barcelona has watched Nadir Belhadj impress for Portsmouth this season and are considering making a move for him if Éric Abidal does not recover from injury soon.
• The Blaugrana are concerned that their French international defender is struggling with a knee injury that has seen him miss the whole of November and that could see them dip into the transfer market, according to Catalunya Radio.

  Carles Puyol, Sylvinho and Martín Cáceres have all filled in for Abidal, but unless his recuperation speeds up the club could make an approach for a replacement.

  Belhadj has caught the Catalan club’s attention after his outstanding form this season during a loan spell with Premier League Portsmouth from League 1 outfit Lens.

  While the 26-year-old is on a season-loan deal with the English outfit, Barça may look to compensate Pompey as well as paying Lens a fee for his services during the January transfer window.

  Despite his impressive form this term, Belhadj has rarely settled at any of his previous clubs having had two loan stints and four permanent moves in six seasons.

  Able to play either at left-back, where Barça would employ him, or further up field, his credentials would fit in with Barça’s desire to sign players able to play in more than one position.