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Despite being on track for yet another La Liga title, Barcelona could still look to spend big in the summer. With arch-rivals Real Madrid, reportedly set to spend upwards of £350m this summer (independent), it would make sense to strengthen from a position of power, rather than slowly slip behind.
After all, this is exactly what Real let happen to themselves, they rested on their laurels after three successive Champions League victories, and they're now paying the price.
While Barcelona certainly don't need a complete overhaul, some additions to key areas could certainly help. Barca have already partially started doing this, the signing of Frenkie de Jong, essentially safeguarding the future of their midfield for years to come. A similar approach to other key areas, should be next on the agenda.
Also see : Copa America Schedule, Copa America Standings
#3 Ferland Mendy
Barcelona's current squad contains only one natural left-back, Jordi Alba, who is 30 in March. At the very least, a rotation option is needed but, ideally one who could surpass Alba as the starter in the near future.
Both Mendy and Alba, play as extremely offensive wing backs, looking to push forward and contribute to the attack. Both possess nearly identical key passes statistics, with the Frenchman's 1.4, narrowly losing out to Alba's 1.5. The main difference seems to be quality of the final ball, with Alba's passes resulting in 10 assists to Mendy's 2. At just 23, however, it is understandable that he may lack composure in the final third. The fact that one, plays with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez also undoubtedly helps.
Mendy is already the superior athlete however, completing 1.7 dribbles and being fouled 1.5 times per game, to Alba's 0.5 dribbles and 0.5 fouls won per game. It could also be argued Mendy is already the superior defender as well, both possess identical 1.2 tackles a game. But Mendy is only dribbled past a tiny 0.2 times per game, whereas Alba is dribbled past a much higher 0.9 times per game (whoscored.com).
Mendy is reportedly Barcelona's main target at left back (MARCA).
#2 Matthijs de Ligt
If ever a player had "Barcelona DNA", it would be Matthijs de Ligt, a composed, assured ball playing centre back of the highest class. This clearly hasn't gone unnoticed at Barca either, with their president all but confirming they were targeting him,
“We have to talk about it from March (signing De Ligt), which is when we take the decisions, but his name is on the table, of course,” said Bartomeu to SER Catalunya radio.
With Barcelona interested and de Ligt's teammate, Frenkie de Jong already confirmed to be joining Barcelona in the summer, it seems a matter of when, not if de Ligt is confirmed as a Barca player.
De Ligt's pass success of 90.1 %, already puts him close to Barca's current starting centre backs, Gerald Pique with 91.1% and Samuel Umtiti with 93%.
De Ligt looks like he'll seamlessly transition into this Barca side, and with elite performances against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in the Champions League, there's little to worry about him making the step up from the Eredivisie to La Liga.
De Ligt, at just 19, could fill the spot at centre back for more than 10 years, making him a bargain at any price.
#1- Luka Jović
It's no secret Luis Suárez is past his best, with the Uruguayan having not scored a Champions League away goal since September 16th, 2015, against Roma. In fact, Suárez hasn't scored at all in the Champions League this season, and it seems Barcelona have found his replacement.
Barcelona sent director of football, Eric Abidal, to the San Siro, to watch Luca Jović play against Inter Milan (MARCA), and they certainly won't have been disappointed, with the Serbian scoring in the first five minutes. That was Jović's seventh goal in the Europa League this season. With an additional 15 in the Bundesliga, and at just 21 years of age, Jović could certainly be a long term heir to Luis Suárez.
It's also worth noting that, Jović has done this with a limited supporting cast. Eintracht Frankfurt finished eighth last year, and even with Jović's goal-scoring heroics, are only fifth this season. Surrounded by better players, Jović's goal output could only be expected to get even better.
