Barcelona sent scouts to watch Jean-MIchael Seri in Nice’s league match against Troyes on Friday evening, according to Nice Matin, via Get French Football.
Seri has emerged as a summer transfer target for the La Liga giants in the wake of Neymar’s £193m departure to Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the month.
The 26-year-old reportedly has a €40m (£36.6m) release clause and Barcelona would have been impressed from his performance on Friday despite the fact Nice slipped to a shock 2-1 home defeat.
The Ivory Coast international has also been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer but Ernesto Valverde’s side are in pole position for his signature.
Only Florian Thauvin (23) and Angel Di Maria (22) have made more inaccurate throughballs than Seri (21) in Ligue 1 since the start of last season.