Barcelona will reinforce up to seven positions this summer

Barcelona will reinforce up to seven positions this summer

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The Catalans will try and attack the transfer market although finances are an issue

“There are positions we don’t have back up in and the ideas is to have two competitive players for each position,” said Xavi last Saturday. He was speaking about the planning for next season. The club are working on making that happen.

Xavi wants between six and seven new faces in the summer. One could be in goal. With Neto leaving, Ter Stegen needs back up, and Inaki Pena is most likely to come back from Galatasaray and fill that role.

The defence will be heavily changed. In the centre, Pique, Eric and Araujo will stay, while the club will look for exits for Lenglet, Umtiti and Mingueza. Andreas Christensen is arriving from Chelsea at the end of his contract there. Xavi wants Cesar Azpilicueta, who could come free, but Chelsea have activated a year extension in his deal. If he can get away, then he will join.

At left back there’s only Jordi Alba. Jose Luis Gaya is liked but Barcelona don’t want to spend serious money there. Javi Galan, Alex Telles, Grimaldo, Tagliafico and Alex Moreno are among the names who could fill it.

The midfield is in theory where the fewest changes will happen. Xavi wants six midfielders and he has them: Busquets, Gavi, Pedri, Nico, Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie, who is coming from Milan.

Up front, two footballers could arrive. Raphinha from Leeds, whom Barcelona have negotiated with through his agent Deco. Reaching a deal with Leeds won’t be easy. The second is a new striker potentially, with Robert Lewnadowski the big target. He could be bought for 40m euros.

Barcelona have a problem though. FFP. They are working to sell 49% of Barça Studios and BLM (Licensing and Merchandising). The other way to do it is to sell players. There are 25 spaces available in the squad and various names who could go. 

Alves, Sergi Roberto, Dembele, Luuk de Jong and Adama are out of contract, while those mentioned earlier, plus Dest, Riqui, Memphis and Braithwaite could be sold. Coutinho, Pjanic, Trinaco and Collado are back from loan and they too may be sold.

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