Barca are already league champions and from now on the big task is to plan and design the team for next season. In this sense, the sports management, hand in hand with the coaching staff, has implemented a reinforcement plan that continues at the cost of knowing the economic situation and ‘fair play’.
Despite this, the great objective of the summer after the departure of Busquets will be a defensive pivot. And from there, the team will be strengthened as the players head out with the aim of continuing to win and be more competitive in Europe.
- Defensive midfielder
“Bizzy is leaving and it is clear, it is logical, we need a high-level defensive pivot next season, he is a fundamental footballer, if the captain leaves, a very different footballer leaves and we need him the most.” Gotta change for the better”. Xavi was so forceful at the press conference. His names on the table are Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad), two targets for whom Barcelona will have to invest a lot and who will not be easy to sign despite them. The options so far are a rung or two below: Amarabat (Fiorentina), Guido Rodriguez (Betis) or Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton), with whom Laporta already has a verbal agreement.
2. Messi’s return
It is an operation that excites everyone in the Ciutat Esportiva, but is complicated despite the fact that it will arrive for free. For the time being, Barca is waiting to know LaLiga’s position on the feasibility plan it presented. In his own way, Leo has given him time: he will not talk about his future with PSG until the end of the season. Messi is the great illusion and he hopes that he can play for Barcelona for at least one more year. Rosario does not close the door on a return, but he is waiting for a move from Barcelona. Currently, he does not have a coolie offer.
3. Gundogan, between Barka and the city
Ilkay Gundogan will also arrive as a free agent after running out of contract with Manchester City and will be a huge priority if Messi doesn’t return. The German is seriously considering leaving England to come to Barcelona, ​​who have offered him less money but a three-year contract from City. After his successful end of the season, Guardiola insisted on keeping his captain and English, who had offered him a year-to-year renewal, is studying a contract extension. There Gundogan, who seemed practically certain to come to Barcelona, ​​would have more doubts still and his signing could be complicated. For now, his focus is on winning the FA Cup and Champions League with Pep Guardiola’s men.
4. Carrasco, ‘Poll’ for the band
Another purpose is to reinforce the ends. They want a winger and everything indicates it will be Yannick Carrasco, with whom Barca already have an agreement with both the player and Atlético de Madrid since January. Despite this, the Catalans will try to reduce the purchase option (from around 15 million) to 10 ‘kilo’. It is not ruled out that a footballer enters the operation.
5. Winger, on loan with Cancelo
The blanket is short and Xavi has already said that there will be other priorities first. But if there is a salary margin, then we will also try to strengthen the right side. In this situation, one option they consider viable is the option of Joao Cancelo on loan. Bayern doesn’t plan to keep it and it didn’t end well with Guardiola. Introduced by Mendes, they hope they can persuade English to take him on loan. The alternatives—Foyth, Frimpong or Arnau Martinez—are nearly impossible because they’ll go out only as transfers and you’ll have to invest in other priority positions.
6. Talked about everything, with Inigo Martinez
The signing of Inigo Martinez by Barcelona is done in the absence of official confirmation. The Athletic Club central defender will arrive for free, but his registration and the wage margin he has left are also awaited. The centre-back positions are well covered – Araujo, Christensen, Kaunde and Erik – but the Basque would bring experience and solvency in a signing with immediate performances.
7. Another Striker and Ruben Neves as ‘Bonus Track’
And as if that wasn’t enough, the potential signing of a center forward with two names as a jackpot: Aubameyang and Vitor Roque will remain in the offing. The Brazilian would be a club signing with a view to the future, but it would mean an investment of 35 million euros and there are other emergencies in the squad today. There is the Gabonese from Chelsea as an alternative, but he has lost integers in recent weeks.
On the other hand, there is Ruben Neves, quoted above, who Xavi will accept as a squad player as long as they bring him a top-tier midfielder.
