First-place Barcelona is currently looking to the Premier League to re-tool their defense.

According to the Daily Mail, Liverpool’s Daniel Agger and Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen are seen as possible replacements for Carles Puyol.

The Belgium born Vermaelen has made 91 appearances and scored 13 goals for the Gunners since his transfer from Ajax. Currently five points behind Chelsea for Champions League qualification, Vermaelen leads an Arsenal backline that has let up just 32 goals this season, fourth best in the Premier League.

Agger has spent his entire EPL career with Liverpool, making 147 appearances sine 2006. He was tied to Manchester City back in August, but no move materialized during the transfer session.

Both top shelf defenders would cost Barcelona as much as £16 million on the transfer market.

In the last two weeks, the Catalans suffered two consecutive losses to Real Madrid, falling 3-1 in the Copa Del Rey final on Feb. 26, and 2-1 last week in La Liga play.

In the Copa Del Rey, Puyol fell while defending Madrid’s Angel Di Maria, which may have sparked Barcelona’s plans to rebuild.

The 34-year-old Puyol has worked his way up through Barcelona’s youth camp, and made the senior squad in 1999. Since then he’s made 386 appearances and netted 11 goals.

Injuries may have decreased Puyol's value. Last year he had arthroscopic knee surgery, and missed two months this season after suffering a dislocated elbow.

Barcelona’s next match is against Deportivo on Saturday at Camp Nou.

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