5 players who can replace Neymar at Barcelona

Mes que un club.

Barcelona are ‘more than a club’, and idea that they would let go of Neymar seems preposterous tabloid nonsense, at first glance. However, there is no smoke without fire and the incessant reports of Manchester United being ready to trigger the Brazilian’s release clause lends credence to the idea that Neymar will be leaving Spain.

Still, Barcelona could easily survive the loss of Neymar, while effectively making a huge profit on a player they got 4 great seasons out of.

Here are 5 replacements for Neymar at Barcelona.

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#5 Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane Dembele has been pivotal for Dortmund in just his first season

Not now, because I want to grow and be a protagonist every Sunday. But one day I will play for Barcelona.

If you ask most young starlets if they would want to play for Barcelona, the response would barely contain their excitement. Dembele’s response, however, smacks of a level-headedness that belies his tender age – it reflects in his performances for Dortmund, where he’s become crucial to Thomas Tuchel right from the get go.

With 16 assists and 7 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions this season, Dembele is one of the most productive players in all of Europe’s Top 5 leagues. He’s quite a long way off from Neymar’s incredible feat of a goal contribution every 83 minutes, but for a 19-year-old, a goal contribution rate of 104 minutes is still incredible.

Dembele still needs time to become the finished article, but Barcelona can afford to give him the time, since they have options within the squad who can rotate with Dembele if Neymar leaves next season.

#4 Douglas Costa

Douglas Costa could be an intelligent buy for Barcelona

One Brazilian out, one Brazilian in.

It’s not the most logical of ideas, but Douglas Costa could prove to be a relatively safe replacement for Neymar. The way Barcelona have utilized Neymar of late, is primarily wing play, which has seen the Brazilian rack up more assists this season than goals – although this is perhaps not the best use of Neymar’s talents. Douglas Costa is more suited to the role, as his primary focus is on beating his marker and getting the ball in – much like a traditional winger.

With Luis Suarez on the pitch, this could prove to be an instant hit for Barcelona. The Bayern Munich winger also would not come with a hefty price tag – his stock has not increased in the last few seasons, as injuries and squad rotation have seen him play only 1637 minutes this season. Costa has still managed to rack up 9 assists and 7 goals this season, which is a decent return from an undoubtedly talented player.

#3 Riyad Mahrez

Barcelona could obtain Mahrez for a cut-price offer

Cast your minds back to a year ago, and Riyad Mahrez was the most sought after player on the planet. The Algerian had lit up the Premier League with a string of scintillating performances, ending 2015/16 as a Premier League champion, and the PFA Player of the Year with 17 goals and 11 assists.

Things have gone awry since then, with Mahrez just involved in 8 league goals for the Foxes this season, although his performances in the UEFA Champions League have been much more pivotal (4 goals, 2 assists in 7 games). It reeks of a player who is on his way out of the club, and Barcelona could pounce on his desire to move.

Mahrez primarily operates on the right wing, but will easily adapt to the left for Barcelona, filling the shoes of Neymar. The Algerian’s quick thinking vision could prove vital for a Barcelona that’s come to love the counter-attack with Suarez and Messi. MSN could get an upgrade to MSM.

#2 Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe is probably the most sought after player in the world

There’s hype and then there’s the hype for Kylian Mbappe. Two stellar performances where Mbappe ripped the Manchester City defence to shreds in the UEFA Champions League has made the entire world sit up and take notice of the 18-year-old Frenchman. It has led to all the top clubs in Europe – Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Juventus, Chelsea, Bayern Munich all be linked with the AS Monaco man.

Even his teammate, Fabinho knows Mbappe is on the move, saying “We know that sooner or later he'll go to a club like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or another club of that calibre.” So how can Barcelona get the most sought after player on the planet?

A guaranteed first-team spot – which will happen if Neymar leaves. Mbappe has been involved in an incredible 30 goals this season (19 goals, 11 assists) in just 32 appearances. What is even more shocking is how often he is involved in a goal – 55.7 minutes! To put that in perspective, Lionel Messi is involved in a goal every 60.7 minutes, while Neymar gets a goal or assist every 88 minutes.

#1 Paulo Dybala

Paulo Dybala has been incessantly linked with Barcelona this season

What Lionel Messi wants, Lionel Messi gets. If reports in Spain are to be believed, the Argentine wants his national teammate, Paulo Dybala.

Barcelona will have to part with a staggering amount to get Dybala, but they will be flush with cash from the sale of Neymar anyway. In return, they could get a player who is probably more suited to playing with Messi than Neymar.

He was long considered the successor to Messi, but Dybala is well aware that he will be playing second-fiddle to Messi, both for club and country. The 23-year-old has already shown a willingness to adapt, as he has done so for Gonzalo Higuain at Juventus, which has seen his effectiveness lessen, with 14 goals and 7 assists from 32 appearances this season.

Given his age, Dybala may also be more patient to wait it out at Barcelona than Neymar, when it comes to taking over when Messi retires.