Barring a dramatic collapse from Actual Madrid, Barcelona are going to give up their La Liga crown in fairly meek trend.
The Catalan giants’ detached kind within the early phases of the season persuaded Xavi that the very best plan of action was to step down as head coach this summer season, and his departure might be the catalyst for vital change at a membership nonetheless below the cosh financially.
Gamers will inevitably have to go away to be able to enable for incomings, with Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araujo amongst these to have been touted for the exit door, and Barcelona will search for different methods to boost money too – president Joan Laporta does love lever or 20, that a lot we already know.
The query is, what do Barcelona must get again on stage phrases with a Actual Madrid aspect more likely to be boasting Kylian Mbappe and Endrick subsequent season, along with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo?
The next could be place to begin…
There isn’t any denying that Robert Lewandowski is among the biggest strikers of recent instances. His relentless thirst for objectives helped Bayern Munich dominate the Bundesliga all through his time on the membership, and he was 100% robbed by the choice to award Lionel Messi the Ballon d’Or in 2021.
However regardless of placing up spectacular numbers in his first season at Barcelona – sufficient to win the Pichichi Trophy – it is clear Lewandowski shouldn’t be the best match for the Catalan giants. Definitely not for the long-term.
Vitor Roque is already at Barcelona and he’ll seemingly play a key position in taking the membership ahead. However assured objectives and a dose of wow-factor actually sums up Newcastle’s Alexander Isak to a tee. He’ll price a reasonably penny to prise away from St James’ Park, however generally it’s important to pay a premium to get the very best.
In Isak, he is already one of the vital prolific marksman in Europe and, offering he can keep match, you’d argue he is solely going to get higher.
One other absolute should addition is one already on the membership on mortgage. No, it isn’t Joao Felix, however namesake Joao Cancelo as a substitute.
Occasional lapses in focus blight the Portuguese’s sport, that’s unquestionable, however his means to play on each flanks to an exceptionally excessive normal is among the many most precious traits in soccer.
Cancelo additionally comes from a background of successful – he has lifted prime flight titles in 4 completely different nations – and that psychological power is required each 12 months within the struggle with Actual Madrid.
Barcelona’s La Masia academy is thought for producing a few of European soccer’s brightest abilities.
Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal are three of the most popular properties to have graduated in recent times, however one which seemingly acquired away from the Catalan giants is late bloomer Alejandro Grimaldo.
The 28-year-old performed 92 video games for Barcelona B earlier than selecting to pursue a transfer to Benfica in 2016 when his contract was operating down. The Portuguese giants loved seven years of top quality service earlier than a transfer to newly topped Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen got here to fruition final summer season.
Grimaldo’s performances on the alternative flank to Jeremie Frimpong have been excellent, and though a transfer is sort of actually out of the query, he’d be a major addition to assist help the event of younger Alejandro Balde.
Barcelona’s prime scorer in La Liga this season is Lewandowski with 13 objectives, however no different participant has hit double digits. Felix, Ferran Torres, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have all chipped in, however the objectives have been sparse from midfield to say the least.
That is to not say that Dani Olmo will assist in that exact regard, however the 25-year-old attacking midfielder would undoubtedly add a special dynamic in relation to creating possibilities.
RB Leipzig know they’re in a shedding battle to maintain maintain of Olmo, and though there’s strategies that they’ll demand his €60m launch clause be paid in full if they’re to comply with a deal, they have been recognized to compromise if it finally advantages all events.
Do Barca want extra numbers in midfield? Sure. Would Olmo be on much less wages than the doubtless departing Frenkie de Jong? Sure. Would he be much less risky than fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan? Sure. Does he mix with the model of soccer on present in Catalonia? Completely sure.
