'%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)
After their recent humiliation in the Champions League by Liverpool, one thing remained with Barcelona; their urgent need to reinforce their squad this summer.
Barcelona, even though they won La Liga, haven’t been convincing enough this season and the failures of their arch-rivals Real Madrid has looked like what has really masked their deficiencies. That, coupled with their win over Manchester United and the unbelievable form of Lionel Messi, made most pundits and critics see as if Barca were in a shape to win everything this season.
The moment Liverpool beat them 4-0 was when everyone started to notice the holes that are in this team. The team, though, isn’t such a bad team if you look at it, but isn’t that great either. When Messi can’t bail them out, they appear incapable of doing much damage to strong teams.
Now, Barca have a summer where they will have the opportunity to try and restructure their squad and get them back to the heights they want. The need an almost entire overhaul of their midfield and their step to signing Ajax youngster Frenkie de Jong is a move in the right direction. They also look they are in desperate need of a quality centre back, a right back and at least a striker.
Barca have a history of recruiting some of the best talents in the world over the years and this isn’t going to be different. They will want to do the same this summer, and here’s the list of the talents they should consider.
#4 Thomas Meunier
Barca hasn’t settled on a full-time right-back at the club since the sensational Dani Alves left for Juventus sometime back. Right now, they have Nelson Semedo and Sergi Roberto competing for that position. Sergi Roberto almost certainly always gets into the team despite being a midfielder because of his superior footballing brain.
But Barca cannot deny that they need a specialist there that can nail down the position for years to come, that’s why they spent big on Semedo.
Sergi Roberto can go on and boost the Barca midfield if they can get someone to knuckle down that position. Thomas Meunier can come in and make that position his own quite easy. He’s fast, reads the game well and is good on the attack as well - he’s already scored 5 goals for PSG this season.
With him in the team, Barca will finally have someone that can complement their defence and still maraud forward for attacks also, he’ll unshackle Roberto to play in the midfield where Barca obviously needs reinforcements.
#3 Antoine Griezmann
So, Antoine Griezmann finally opened up about his future by leaving Atletico fans heartbroken by stating he doesn’t want to be part of their team for next season. That now opens the door for Barcelona who has been linked with him for some time now to swoop in.
With him in the team, Barca will now finally have someone that can complement Suarez and Messi in their attack. Most people have viewed Griezmann if he does move to Barca as a sign that Suarez leaves the club. But who says they can’t co-exist in the same team?
Sure, Griezmann moving to Barca will provide some selection headaches, but that’s the kind of headache that any manager will surely appreciate. Just imagine an attack with Messi, Suarez and Griezmann.
That will be one of the feared attacks across Europe next season. He does also bring in experience and a new dimension of play because he’s not an out and out striker and neither is he an out and out striker. Atletico’s loss will surely be Barcelona’s grain.
#2 Matthijs de Ligt
One of the most wanted men in European football today is surely Ajax captain Matthijs de Ligt. When Barca went in for his teammate Frenkie de Jong earlier, they also wanted a deal for de Ligt to be included at the time, but sadly that didn’t materialize and Barca were left with De Jong alone. Now, they will want to go back and bring in the sensational young defender to their team.
It is hard to imagine that he’s ust 19 years old at the moment and he’s already led his team to the semifinal of the Champions League this season. They claimed the scalps of top teams like Real Madrid and Juventus in the process. The defender plays with the calmness of an experienced, old head and has what it takes to make it at the top.
He reads the game well, his tackles are timely and he organizes the backline like an experienced defender. Barca’s main man in the defence, Pique is in his 30’s and will come to the end of his career soon and that’s when they will need De Ligt the most.
#1 Marco Verratti
One of the few world-class holding midfielders in Europe today is PSG's metronomic Italian, Marco Verratti. You may look at it and feel that Barca don’t need another holding player since one of the other world class holding midfielders is Sergio Busquets who is part of their team. But no, they actually need him to come and complement Busquets. If you remember, Spain’s best years were when Busquets and Xabi Alonso were patrolling the central area of the pitch.
It has been done before and it can be done here as both will have different roles in the team and surely prove a heavyweight midfield. Barca forwards will surely salivate at the idea of having someone like Verratti constantly spraying balls to them and dictating the game in the middle.
If Barcelona can push for this deal, and they have been trying for quite some time, it will be one of their best pieces of business in a long while. Verratti, after PSG's failure in the Champions League yet again, will feel like it is time to move on if he wants to win the Champions League. He’s coming into his prime as a player and this might just be the right time to make that move to Spain.
