'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Barcelona remain on course for their third potential treble in the last decade as they went 10 points ahead of Atlético Madrid in La Liga after beating Real Betis 4-1, courtesy to a stunning Lionel Messi hat-trick. Ernesto Valverde’s men will also face Manchester United in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while in Copa del Rey they will take on Valencia in the final on 25th of May.
Though the Catalan side may not have been as eye soothing as they were in the past, this Barcelona team is pragmatic and know how to grind out results when they are struggling to get a grip of the game. Barcelona have struggled in many matches this season but their talisman Lionel Messi has bailed them out almost every time and saved Valverde from various questionable selections in the past.
It may seem like Barcelona are heavily loaded with the squad they have got but in reality, it is not. Barcelona needs to fill up a lot of voids in near future in order to dominate Europe for the next decade or so.
Barcelona needs to reinforce the attacking line as soon as possible. They need a young, upcoming, bright talent who will play the deputy role to Luiz Suárez and earn precious experience about how to fit into the Barcelona system. He can also provide some crucial time off for the prolific Barcelona number nine who is currently 32 years old. Though they have signed Kevin-Prince Boateng in the winter, he does not seem to be a long-time replacement for Suárez given, his age and the pedigree he has got.
Another area that the Catalan giants need to look into is the left-back position. Barcelona do not have a replacement for Jordi Alba and whenever the Spanish left-back was out due to injury or suspension, they have struggled badly.
Last but not least, Barcelona needs to find a replacement for Gerard Piqué. The 32-year-old defender has already made 46 appearances this season and we are still in the month of March. You don’t expect Piqué to play another 55-game season at the age of 33 and lead the defence just like the way he has lead in previous years.
Here are the three players Barcelona must bring to Camp Nou next season to strengthen their squad.
#3 Matthijs de Ligt:
The Dutch defender is one of the hottest properties in World football right now. The 19-year-old Golden Boy winner has been nothing less than magnificent this season. de Ligt averages almost two successful challenges in every 90 minutes along with 4 clearances. In 39 appearances for Ajax and Netherland, he has made 51 interceptions. His ability to command the defensive line at such a young age is astonishing. His recent performance against Real Madrid in the Champions League round of sixteen is a perfect example of how talented this young star is. He almost kept the attacking prowess of Real Madrid silent throughout the 180 minutes in both the ties except some individual brilliances from Benzema.
Barcelona might have got three world-class centre back in their ranks, but they cannot afford to miss the opportunity to sign such a talent who can lead the defense for the upcoming decade, and also to find a perfect replacement for Gerard Pique who is now on the wrong side of thirties.
He is good in possession, can play out from the back and also likes to play with short passes. His ability to remain calm in crunch situations and not to dive into challenges has made him the player he is today. Moreover, he is also a threat to a set-piece movement because of his tall stature. In short, he is tailor-made for Barcelona.
He has been in Barcelona’s radar for quite some time now. Recent reports suggest that Barcelona are closing in for a potential move of the youngster to the Camp Nou. It still remains to be seen whether he chooses Barcelona or other heavyweights of Europe as they all have their eyes set on him.
#2 Nicolás Tagliafico:
The Argentine left-back is having a stellar of a season for Ajax. Tagliafico has scored 5 goals this season and also provide 3 assists in 29 appearances. The stats might not have been as good as Jordi Alba’s, but you have to consider the fact that Ajax do not have a player like Lionel Messi. He is quite capable in defensive third also, he has an average of almost 3 successful tackles for every 90 minutes which is exceptional from a wing-back's perspective.
His overlapping skills in the left-hand side of the field has been instrumental for Ajax and when it comes to crossing or finding the number 9 through key passes, there are only a few left backs in the world that you can compare with him this season. He is also excellent in transitions and has the unique quality of starting a counter-attack and at the same time, he knows how to defend it properly. The left-back has got the so-called Barcelona DNA and can be the perfect replacement for Jordi Alba in the near future.
He has been recently linked with Barcelona according to various sources in Catalunya and Spain. Barcelona needs a left-back from the beginning of the next season because they can not afford to go through another season with just only one first choice left back.
#1 Luka Jović:
The Serbian striker Luka Jović is highly rated among the next gen striker in World football. The 21-year-old has got a lot of potential and will eventually be one of the very best in future. This season, he has already scored 22 goals and also provided 6 assists for Germany and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Jović fits the profile of the type of striker Barcelona wants, a young bright talent who can coexist with Suárez and learn from the master himself how to play the Barcelona style of football. His ability to lead the forward line and play off the shoulder of the last defender is a great asset to have at such a young age. The 181-cm tall striker is also a great aerial threat to the opponents. His playing style involves a lot of lay-offs which is just the doctor ordered for Barcelona.
He might be the perfect replacement of ageing Luis Suárez in Barcelona and there is no secret that the Catalan side has been monitoring his movements for quite a while now. Recently a managerial team comprising of Eric Abidal, Pep Segura and Ramon Planes all went to Milan to see his performance in the Europa League round of sixteen where he scored the winner and has sent Frankfurt through to the quarter-finals and their dream of lifting a UEFA Cup since 1980 is still alive.
Barcelona are also aware of the fact that they have to act as quickly as possible considering the amount of interest there is for the on-loan Benfica striker.
