Barça meet to discuss the four signings they want

Barça meet to discuss the four signings they want

Abidal ya manda
Abidal ya manda | sport

Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes have got to work in their new roles

Barcelona's new signing committee began work on Monday on the club's sporting project for next season. Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes met with Pep Segura to discuss Barça's priorities after Antoine Griezmann's 'no'. The idea is to improve the team through the arrival of two central midfielders -- one of them is Arthur -- and to look for an attacker to cover the exit of Paco Alcacer. There are negotiations open, but they also put new names on the table. What they're clear on is that they cannot mess up the negotiations. 

Barça have changed their plans since the Griezmann saga. Philippe Coutinho will not take on a more attacking role, along with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, and the club will look to midfield. A deal is done for Arthur and they will try to bring it forward so that he can do pre-season with the first team. From there, the club will look for another top-level midfielder. Replacing Andres Iniesta is almost impossible. There's no one like him. But they will try and bring someone in with quality in midfield. That's where the majority of their budget will go. 

Finally, the summer will be rounded off with the signing of a centre-back: Sevilla's Clement Lenglet. The operation is very, very advanced. Barça hope to pay his release claise at the beginning of July. 

Going back to the replacement for Alcacer, Barça want a player who can unbalance defences, score goals and is available for a good price. 

Also discussed was 'Operation Exit'. The club want to bring in money and free up wages. Coach Ernesto Valverde, meanwhile, wants a small squad so that he has room to give chances to kids from La Masia, which will be necessary if five or six players are sold. There are offers on the table and the club hope to have things solved before preseason begins next month. 

One player who won't leave, it seems, is Jasper Cillessen. The goalkeeper's made it clear he's ready to listen to offers but Barça have advised him they want him around next season. That will only change if a huge offer arrives which satisfies all parties. And there will be movement in the goalkeeper market this summer, so Cillessen could still have a small chance of a transfer out of Camp Nou. 

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