Barcelona's 5-man Summer Wishlist

Belgium v France: Semi Final - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has emerged as a surprise target for FC Barcelona

As the world cup gala comes to a close, it is time to switch focus to the transfer window, where the clubs will be hoping to strengthen the squad, ahead of a grueling season. As perennial contenders for treble, Barcelona will want to bring in top names this summer to usurp a Ronaldo-less Real Madrid in the Champions League.

The highly-rated Brazilian has already been brought to the club, while Paulinho has been offloaded to China on loan to his former team, Guangzhou Evergrande. The midfielder departed after just one season at FC Barcelona, where he was instrumental in Barcelona's triumph. So it is important that the club replaces the Brazilian.

While Arthur Melo will try to fill in the void left by Iniesta, he is too raw, having never played in Europe before. In addition to Melo, the Spanish club have also brought in Clement Lenglet, after paying his 35 million Euros buyout clause, to take him from Sevilla. While Arthur and Lenglet are quality signings, Barcelona look into bringing more players to dominate Europe. The club's hierarchy wants to bring in at least a couple of players, with the priority being a central midfielder and a forward.

Here are the 5 players that Barcelona are targeting this summer:


#5 Hirving Lozano

Brazil v Mexico: Round of 16 - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Hirving Lozano is a top transfer target for Barcelona

Barcelona are on the lookout for a talented young striker, who can replace the aging Suarez in the coming years and have identified Mexico hitman Lozano as the successor to the Uruguayan.

The young PSV star was one of the highlights of Mexico's world cup campaign, most notably during the 1-0 victory over Germany in the group stages where he scored the only goal of the game. His exploits have not gone unnoticed as the club prepare a bid to bring the young forward to the Camp Nou. He moved to PSV just last season, netting 17 goals in 29 Eredivisie games as they won the league.

A major stumbling block for the deal is the Spanish rules of only three non-EU players in the squad, which is currently occupied by Coutinho, Yerry Mina, and new signing Arthur. However, Coutinho has already hinted at a Portuguese citizenship, for which he is eligible, paving the way for the deal. According to Sport, even negotiations had taken place with Barcelona and Lozano's father over a possible move for his son.

Hirving Lozano is certainly the next big thing in European football and with Suarez in his 30's and visibly declining and Barcelona's search might end with the dazzling Mexican, who is nicknamed 'Chucky.'

#4 Willian

FBL-COPAM2015-BRA-VEN
Willian could play for Barcelona next season

Reports suggest that, along with Lozano, Barcelona's summer wishlist includes Chelsea's Willian, whose experience will bring a much-needed dynamism up front.

Willian has been one of the most consistent performers for Chelsea and certainly showed his worth when the two teams met in the Champions League last season. Willian is a quick forward, who can cut inside from the wings and also possesses incredible dead-ball abilities, all of which will make him a good signing.

Willian had 6 goals and 7 assists last season, making him an ideal choice to come off the bench for the current forwards. Barcelona will want to bring down the price for the Brazilian, given an underwhelming world cup by his standards. Should a right price be agreed, Willian could be donning the Blaugrana colors in the coming season

The 30-year old's talent is no doubt and will add depth to the depleted forward line of Barcelona. With deadly pace, trickery and an eye for a pass, Willian is an ideal choice to come off the bench, to decide games for Barcelona.

According to Daily star in the UK, Barcelona have met with Kian Joorabchian, Willian's agent and personal terms have been agreed between the two parties. Chelsea value the player at around 80 million, a fee that the Spanish club have balked at. Any deal should be completed quickly as Jose Mourinho is a long-term admirer of the forward and wants to bring him to Old Trafford.

#3 Adrien Rabiot

Caen v Paris Saint Germain - French League 1
Adrien Rabiot

Barcelona want to bring a top midfielder to the Camp Nou, following the departure of Iniesta. WIth Paulinho already gone, Gomes and Rafinha likely to be sold, and Alena suffering a long-term injury, there is a serious shortage of midfielders and Barcelona will bring in more players, after having already signed Arthur Melo.

One of the targets is PSG's Adrien Rabiot. The 23-year-old made 49 appearances for the French club, playing an instrumental role as they reclaimed the Ligue 1 title from AS Monaco. His contract expires next year and has rejected a renewal prompting Barcelona to make a move. The midfielder was left out of France's World cup squad, which will help the Spanish club bring down the price.

A quality player, who can play box-box, Rabiot will add steel to the midfield and could come in place of Paulinho.

According to Sport, Barcelona representatives, Pep Segura and Eric Abidal are in France, to negotiate with the PSG, after having already agreed on personal terms with the player that would see him net around 7 million Euros per season.

Entering the last 12 months of his contract, PSG would be willing to let him go now, rather than for free next summer.

#2 Thiago

FC Bayern Muenchen v VfB Stuttgart - Bundesliga
Eric Abidal wants to bring back Thiago

Barcelona's top target is Bayern Munich's midfielder, Thiago. Even after signing Arthur, and a move for Rabiot on the cards, Abidal is personally insisting on bringing back the La Masia prodigy, with whom he played.

According to Sport, Abidal is a big fan of the player and believes that he is the perfect replacement for Andres Iniesta, who left the club.

Thiago is a technically gifted player and was hailed as the crown jewel of the academy in his time at the club. Bayern Munich are willing to sell Thiago should a right offer come.

Thiago left the club for a mere 25 million Euros back in 2013 and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the world in his time with Bayern Munich, prompting to bring him back to his boyhood club.

He is the embodiment of Barca DNA and would rejuvenate the lackluster midfield that has disappointed the fans in recent seasons. Thiago's signing will be a signal of Barcelona's resurgence and would go a long way in usurping Real Madrid as the European kings.

#1 Eden Hazard

Belgium v France: Semi Final - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has emerged as a surprise target for FC Barcelona

Barcelona's No.1 target for the summer is Eden Hazard if rumors of Transfermarketweb are to be believed. Real Madrid are long-term admirers of the Belgian winger and Hazard has publicly stated his admiration for Los Blancos several times.

However, it is the Catalan club who have emerged as the front-runners for the wantaway midfielder, who's had a stellar campaign at the World Cup. The news of Barcelona's interest on the Chelsea forward first broke out on Thursday and has rapidly been picked by several media outlets.

After missing out on Champions league, several stars are said to be on the way out, with Hazard in particular often mentioned with a future away from Stamford Bridge. Barcelona want to add a marquee signing after infamously missing out on Antoine Griezmann, who's decided to stay at Atletico Madrid.

A move for Hazard is likely to see Coutinho featured exclusively in the midfield, where he enjoyed a standout campaign for Brazil at the World cup. The move makes sense as Suarez is on the inevitable decline and big-money Neymar replacement Dembele yet to hit the ground running after making the move from Borussia Dortmund last season.

Hazard has been long touted to sign for Real Madrid and a deal for the Chelsea star will certainly prove to be a major coup for Barcelona, making them a serious contender for the Champions League next season. At 27, Hazard is at the peak of his powers and a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid is the next logical step in his career. He will certainly add tremendous quality to any club he goes.

But for now, any potential move is off the cards, with Sarri yet to arrive at Chelsea and Hazard still having a game for the 3rd place in the World cup.

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Edited by Zeeshan Ali