Gideon Mensah 'closing in on Barcelona loan move'

Barcelona are reportedly on the verge of completing the loan signing of Red Bull Salzburg defender Gideon Mensah.

The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with Sturm Graz, making 15 appearances for the club before returning to the Red Bull Arena.

According to Sport, Barca want to sign the Ghana Under-23 international for their B side with the view to potentially progressing into the first team.

The report claims that Mensah would train with Ernesto Valverde's side, though, while the Catalan giants would have the option to sign him on a permanent deal at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

Barca, who will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Athletic Bilbao when they Real Betis on Sunday night, signed Junior Firpo earlier this summer to provide competition for Jordi Alba at left-back.

The club's B side, meanwhile, currently operate in the Segunda B - the third tier of Spanish football.