Barça still need to sort out Alba's contract & finalise defensive options
Jordi Alba has been waiting for talks on a new deal for over a year
With Samuel Umtiti's renewal Barcelona have put an end to one of the club's biggest concerns this summer. The Frenchman had an accessible €60m buyout clause and if he'd left Barcelona would've been forced to spend big this summer to replace him.
Umtiti's new deal means that one of the key pillars of the team - the solid partnership he's formed with Gerard Pique - remains in tact but there's still various operations Barcelona need to sort out regarding their defence.
One of the most pressing is Jordi Alba's current situation. The full back's deal ends in 2020 and the player's agent has recently criticised Barcelona for what he believes is the club going against what was promised to his client.
His agent, Vicente Fores, made his position clear to SPORT on the 29th May. "Rahul Sanllehi was still at the club when they told us not to worry, that they were going to renew his (Alba's) contract. But we're still waiting and have been for a year and a half now. I don't understand it. Maybe this is what usually happens at Barça or perhaps they aren't happy with the performances of a footballer who was included in the FIFA XI, and who has the most assists for a defender in European football."
With these words Fores let the world know how unhappy Alba was with the current situation. In the last few months we've seen various players such as Pique, Umtiti and Sergi Roberto, amongst others, who have been to club's headquarters to improve their existing deals. "He has two years left and let's see what happens, we're relaxed," Alba's agent said.
Another asterisk for next season's squad is the role Thomas Vermaelen will play. The Belgian had an important part to play last season, especially when Umtiti was injured. Vermaelen was a starter in the Frenchman's absence and produced some fine performances, the standout one being at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Umtiti's return coupled with Vermaelen's now common muscular injuries saw his impact lessened at the end of the season. The Belgian's contract expires at the end of next season and at the moment he's part of the club's plans for next season as the fourth centre back option. Although as yet there's been no talk of offering him a new deal.
The role of third choice centre back looks set to go to Clement Lenglet. The French defender, who has a €35m buyout clause, is the chosen one to reinforce Barcelona's defence next season although Sevilla haven't given up hope of convincing him to stay another year.
At just 22 years old, Lenglet is ready to accept the challenge of competing with Pique and Umtiti for a starting place after showing he is capable he is at Sevilla.
In regards to the right back situation, Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo look set to be the two choices to cover that role. Yerry Mina, though, has offers to leave the club on loan. Barcelona are confident Mina will perform well at the World Cup and find a top level side to play at next season to help with his adaptation to European football.
