Report: Barcelona target Premier League centre-back

Barcelona will reportedly move for a centre-back in the January transfer window, with four names from the Premier League being mooted.

With Carlos Puyol coming to the end of his illustrious career and question marks over the form of Gerard Pique, a new defender has become a priority for the Spanish champions.

According to Sport, Chelsea's David Luiz is their top target, but Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Vertonghen and Liverpool's Daniel Agger are also on the wanted list.

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, who has fallen out of favour at the Emirates Stadium, is another who is reportedly being monitored with a view to a 2014 move.

The Catalan outfit lost their unbeaten league record this season at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.