Barring a dramatic collapse from Actual Madrid, Barcelona are going to give up their La Liga crown in fairly meek style.
The Catalan giants’ detached type within the early phases of the season persuaded Xavi that the perfect plan of action was to step down as head coach this summer season, and his departure could possibly be the catalyst for vital change at a membership nonetheless underneath the cosh financially.
Gamers will inevitably have to depart as a way 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 a very good lever or 20, that a lot we already know.
The query is, what do Barcelona must get again on degree phrases with a Actual Madrid facet prone to be boasting Kylian Mbappe and Endrick subsequent season, along with the likes of Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo?
The next could be a very good place to begin…
There is not any denying that Robert Lewandowski is among the best strikers of recent instances. His relentless thirst for targets 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 isn’t the best match for the Catalan giants. Actually 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 targets 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 perfect.
In Isak, he is already one of the crucial 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 is not Joao Felix, however namesake Joao Cancelo as a substitute.
Occasional lapses in focus blight the Portuguese’s recreation, that’s unquestionable, however his skill to play on each flanks to an exceptionally excessive customary is among the many most dear traits in soccer.
Cancelo additionally comes from a background of successful – he has lifted high flight titles in 4 completely different international locations – and that psychological energy is required every 12 months within the battle with Actual Madrid.
Barcelona’s La Masia academy is understood for producing a few of European soccer’s brightest skills.
Pedri, Gavi and Lamine Yamal are three of the most well liked properties to have graduated in recent times, however one which seemingly bought 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 of the range service earlier than a transfer to newly topped Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen got here to fruition final summer season.
Grimaldo’s performances on the other 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 assist the event of younger Alejandro Balde.
Barcelona’s high scorer in La Liga this season is Lewandowski with 13 targets, however no different participant has hit double digits. Felix, Ferran Torres, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal have all chipped in, however the targets have been sparse from midfield to say the least.
That is to not say that Dani Olmo will assist in that specific regard, however the 25-year-old attacking midfielder would undoubtedly add a unique dynamic relating to creating probabilities.
RB Leipzig know they’re in a shedding battle to maintain maintain of Olmo, and though there’s ideas that they may demand his €60m launch clause be paid in full if they’re to conform to a deal, they have been recognized to compromise if it in the end advantages all events.
Do Barca want extra numbers in midfield? Sure. Would Olmo be on much less wages than the possibly departing Frenkie de Jong? Sure. Would he be much less unstable than fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan? Sure. Does he mix with the fashion of soccer on present in Catalonia? Completely sure.
