3 dream replacements for Gerard Pique at FC Barcelona

Ernesto Valverde led Barcelona to the LaLiga title as well as the Copa del Rey last season. Despite winning the domestic double, fans were however not convinced as the club missed out on the UEFA Champions League, of course, the treble, which every team aims for prior to the season.

This outrage from the fans was enough to wake up Valverde and make him prioritise the UEFA Champions League. But an abysmal start to the season has changed the plans.

Gerard Pique, who is trying so hard to play at a high level for Barcelona, is just lacking focus and fitness which has shown on the pitch.

Here are the top 3 candidates at the moment who could bench or replace Pique in Barcelona's defence just so the experienced defender regains his focus.

If this continues, this will cost FC Barcelona a lot, and maybe even end with a trophyless season.

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#1 Matthijs de Ligt

FC Barcelona is already chasing this youngster, and he is the right choice for the team. The 19-year-old centre-back plays for Ajax and the Netherlands National Team. The board of Barcelona looks even more confident in pursuit of this young monster after Samuel Umtiti picked up an injury and cut short the options for defensive players. Another injury or suspension will force FC Barcelona to call up players from FC Barcelona B.

In the 2018-19 season of the Eredivisie, the Dutch international has played in seven matches and Ajax and were unbeaten. In all the seven games, Ajax conceded only one goal and that match resulted in a draw.

The game De Ligt didn't play is the match Ajax lost. He is an asset to the team, and with Pique's lack of fitness this youngster could boost up the defence sky high by pairing up with Samuel Umtiti because of his immense speed and aggression he holds towards the game.

#2 Virgil van Dijk

The big, strong Virgil van Dijk is another dream replacement for Gerard Pique in FC Barcelona. Van Dijk has it all, the physicality to win the ball from opponents, the speed and the right choices in the decision making during when the opposition pressures the defence.

He is an absolute wall for his current Premier League side, Liverpool FC. Pairing up with Clement Lenglet or Samuel Umtiti will make Barcelona less prone to such mistakes through which oppositions take the lead against Barcelona these days.

In Van Dijk's eight appearances in the Premier League this season, Liverpool have conceded only 3, also kept a clean sheet in 4 of the games. Van Dijk has a tackle success rate of 70%, cleared the ball from the own half 42 times and intercepted the ball 12 times so far this season in the Premier League.

#3 Eric Bailly

One of the most aggressive centrebacks today is Eric Bailly. He has the strength to snatch the ball from any player he faces off with. Although Manchester United hasn't benefited enough from him due of lack of clean sheets, once this beast joins Barcelona they might bee treble-bound.

Eric Bailly and Samuel Umtiti together could form an excellent partnership and make a solid wall; with Ter Stegen then coming in form will make things fall in place for the Catalans.

This season in Premier League, Eric Bailly has a tackle rate success of 80%. That's already more than Van Dijk despite not having clean sheets. He has 11 clearances this season without even getting a card. He has committed only two fouls so far in this season, and that too were the ones looking to sure-shot goals. He has recovered the ball 12 times and has won 13 duels.

Eric Bailly is not so old and could be a great asset for the Blaugrana.