The powers that be at La Liga giants Barcelona are keeping close tabs on a breakout member of the defensive ranks at RB Salzburg.

That’s according to Diario Sport, who point towards Samson Baidoo as the player in question.

Baidoo, for those not familiar with his name, is a 20-year-old central defender, who has been making waves in his home country of Austria across the season to date.

Afforded starts in all eight of his side’s fixtures across all competitions, the youngster has shone bright from his berth at the heart of defence.

Baidoo’s excellence on the ball is of particular note, with the Austrian international more than capable of driving into midfield to kickstart attacking sequences.

In turn, it should not come as a major surprise to hear of some of the continent’s leading clubs beginning to sniff around the stopper’s signature.

One such club are Manchester City, who, according to English outlet HITC (as cited by Sport), have been monitoring Baidoo’s development for the last 18 months.

The Sky Blues, however, look set to face competition for his services by way of Spain, and specifically Barcelona.

On the lookout for long-term reinforcements at centre-half, the brass at the Camp Nou, too, have set their sights firmly on Baidoo.

In fact, it is concluded that:

‘What is clear is that City and Barça will compete to sign the player.’

Conor Laird | GSFN