Scout report: Who is Barcelona’s latest transfer target Mohamed Simakan?

As we enter into the final leg of the summer transfer window, FC Barcelona have set their sights on a new target in the form of Mohamed Simakan.

Indeed, the Catalans are weighing up a move for the RB Leipzig defender and have already lodged an enquiry to learn about his situation.

With Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, and now Eric Garcia also sidelined with injuries, Barcelona can do with reinforcements in defence and that is where the 24-year-old Simakan enters the picture.

Who is Mohamed Simakan?

Born in Marseille, France, to Guinean parents, Mohamed Simakan spent his youth careers at several academies, including a stint at Olympique Marseille for five years between 2010 and 2015.

However, it was at RC Strasbourg, whose youth setup he joined in 2017, where the French defender made his breakthrough.

Simakan made his professional debut for the French outfit in July 2019 and did not look back from thereon as he went on to make close to 50 senior appearances for Strasbourg over the next couple of seasons.

The defender’s breakthrough at Strasbourg alerted a plethora of clubs across Europe, but it was RB Leipzig who swooped him away in the summer of 2021 in a deal worth around €18 million.

Since signing for the German outfit, Simakan, now 24, has made 122 appearances, in which he has even scored seven goals while winning two DFB-Pokal trophies and a DFB Super Cup.

On the international stage, Simakan has represented France at the Under-20 and the Under-21 levels, but has not received a senior call-up yet.

Profile

Simakan is primarily a centre-back by trade but is more than capable of slotting in at right-back while he even played as a defensive midfielder on occasions early in his career.

The 24-year-old is an aggressive defender known for his tenacity and physicality while also being more than capable with the ball at his feet and possessing solid defensive acumen.

Strong in duels, both on the ground in the air, the former French youth international also has pace to burn which he utilises well, with his physicality, to carry the ball upfield.

Last season in the Bundesliga, Simakan averaged 1.43 progressive carries per 90 minutes, putting him in the 90th percentile among all centre-backs in the league. He ended the season with an impressive 0.93 progressive carries into the final third per 90, giving an indication of his ability to stride forward with the ball.

Simakan also averaged an 85.6% pass success rate, displaying fairly solid distribution from the back although his long passes still need a bit of work.

Do Barcelona need Simakan?

Simakan, at 24, is a player entering his prime years and has garnered plenty of experience in top-level European football with RB Leipzig.

A solid, all-round defender, the Frenchman shares some similarities with Barcelona’s Ronald Araujo, who is out for the first half of the season through injury and might even leave next year if his contract renewal is not taken care of.

Simakan can also fill in ably at right-back, where they could do with reinforcements having failed to sign Joao Cancelo.

With no Araujo, Christensen, and Eric Garcia for the foreseeable future, Barcelona would benefit from signing a player like Simakan, who can be a solid, long-term investment for the club.

However, shelling out €50 million for him in the current situation seems unlikely unless the Catalans return to the 1:1 rule before Friday by either closing the Nike deal or finding new investors for Barça Vision.