Barcelona have stepped up their interest in Palmeiras defender Yerry Mina.

El Mundo Deportivo says Barcelona technical secretary, Pep Segura, visited Colombian Mina, at the facilities of Palmeiras in Brazil, where the defender currently plies his trade.

Barcelona has a preferential purchase option over the promising young player for the next three years.

Mina, 22, is keen to move to Barcelona, and is said to already have rejected Pep Guardiola's Manchester City. He's played seven matches for Palmeiras this season, in which he's struggled after a thigh injury he picked up at the Olympic