Barcelona eye “next Dani Alves” for the absolute cheap

Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the second leg of the Spanish Cup quarter-final "El clasico" football match Barcelona vs Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO/JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the second leg of the Spanish Cup quarter-final "El clasico" football match Barcelona vs Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on January 25, 2012. AFP PHOTO/JAVIER SORIANO (Photo credit should read JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona is facing a tough battle with Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen to secure the services of Brazillian under-17 defender Yan Cuoto.

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Cuoto has been dubbed the ‘next Dani Alves’ because he plays right-back and has a similar playing style. He has been highly rated after having an impressive Under-17 World Cup with Brazil which they won on home soil. Despite receiving a red in the first game against New Zealand, Cuoto guided Brazil to a deserved World Cup victory.

The signing of Cuoto is expected to cost €5m with the potential of it rising to €8m because of add-ons according to the Bleacher Report. The Blaugrana side has been in a long search for the replacement of Dani Alves, the most decorated soccer player in history. Cuoto has shown sparks of emulating Alves, with his fast pace and being an attack-minded defender.

Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen are not the only clubs interested. Barcelona can also expect to have stiff competition from Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig to secure the services of the dynamic and pacy Cuoto.

Cuoto will likely play in the Barcelona academy for a few years before leaping to the senior team. Cuoto would benefit from new coach Quique Setién, who is known to promote from within the clubs he coaches and is fond of youth players.

For the remaining season, Quique Setien has Mousa Wague available to him apart from Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto, but it is thought that the former Real Betis boss will vest his trust in the seasoned first-team players and Nelson Semedo could be an occupant of the right back’s role up until the end of the campaign or until a worthy candidate is signed by Barca.

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What are your thoughts? Do you believe Yan Cuoto can emulate the career of Dani Alves?