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Following the disappointment they experienced in the latter phase of the recently concluded campaign, Barcelona will be looking to come back better next season. The Catalans will need to make some vital signings if they want their squad to be competitive and fight for every trophy.
The main area that let Ronald Koeman's men down last term was the center of defense. Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet both had outings to forget. Oscar Mingueza lacked experience and Ronald Araujo's influence was hampered by constant injuries.
Barcelona have made a good move signing ex-La Masia prodigy Eric Garcia as a free agent. But the Catalan giants still need one or two more additions to tighten their defense before the upcoming campaign kicks off.
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Given their limited budget, Los Blaugrana can't splash much cash on any recruitment. Nevertheless, they still should be able to find some decent options from the market.
The budget-friendly centre-backs Barcelona can target
#3 Pau Torres
Villareal centre-back Pau Torres is one of Barcelona's finest options to strengthen their backline ahead of the upcoming campaign. At 24, the Spaniard has a long career ahead of him, which means Barcelona can count on him as one of their stars for the future.
Despite his age, Torres is already one of the best centre-backs in La Liga. He made 44 appearances for his team across all competitions last season, with three goals and two assists to his name.
No wonder Manchester United are doing all they can to convince him of a move to Old Trafford.
Torres would be a perfect fit for Barcelona's system. He is competent on the ball, with excellent passing skills, pace and great aerial ability. He's been a reliable figure for the Yellow Submarines over the last couple of years and it's beneficial that he already has experience in La Liga.
The Spaniard wouldn't cost much. He is valued at €50 million by Transfermarkt. Considering Barcelona's financial situation at the moment, they just can't let this opportunity pass them by.
#2 Lisandro Martinez
Another perfect option to take Barcelona's defence to the next level is Ajax centre-back Lisandro Martinez. He has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan capital in recent weeks and that shouldn't come as a surprise.
The defender's outing with Ajax last season brought him to the attention of many big clubs across Europe. He made 42 appearances for the Dutch giants in all competitions, with a record of three goals and one assist to his name.
Having thrived with the Eredivisie giants for the last two years, Martinez shouldn't have problems adapting to Barca's style, owing to the striking similarities in the systems of both clubs. In fact, he has everything he needs to succeed at Camp Nou: great technique, decent passing, solidity and confidence on the ball.
Los Blaugrana wouldn't need to break the bank to sign the defender. He has a market value of just €23 million, as per Transfermarkt. The presence of Lionel Messi could also help attract him to Camp Nou as they both share the dressing room in the Argentina national team.
#1 Alessio Romagnoli
One of Barcelona's priorities this summer is to acquire a left-footed centre-back as constant injuries have stalled Samuel Umtiti's progress and the Frenchman now looks likely to leave. One player who could easily take up the role is AC Milan's Alessio Romagnoli.
The Italian was one of the best defenders in Serie A last season, putting up rock-solid performances to help his side clinch a spot to participate in the Champions League next season. He made 22 appearances for the Rossoneri in the Italian top flight last term, with a goal and an assist to his name.
Romagnoli is well composed on the ball, with good technique and ball distribution. He is great in the air, does well in transitioning defence to attack and also anchors a leadership role on the pitch perfectly. There's no doubt he will improve Barcelona's defense with his set of skills.
The Italian's contract at the San Siro runs out next year and the Serie A giants are reportedly keen to sell him this summer to avoid losing him for free in 2022. Romagnoli has a market value of €25 million according to Transfermarkt and that is well within Barcelona's reach.
