Barcelona endured a relatively disappointing 2018/19 season under Ernesto Valverde. Despite their lavish spending in recent seasons, The club finished failed to claim both Champions League and Copa del Rey
Valverde might have won a La Liga title, but the fans would demand no less than quality reinforcements following another Champions League disaster.
According to a report, Barcelona have been linked to their former player Neymar. The Brazilian had been such a huge hit at Camp Nou before joining PSG on a world record fee in 2017. Unfortunately, Kylian Mbappe overshadowed him last season. The Brazilian also endured a long-term injury despite closing the season with impressive 15 goals.
However, PSG are likely to demand an astronomical price for the star, and Neymar's price-tag could be a major stumbling block for Barcelona. Nevertheless, there are a few alternatives to the Brazilian who Barcelona could consider. Here, we will take a look at 3 of them.
Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann, 28, took no time to adapt to new surroundings at Atletico Madrid after signing for massive €30 million in 2014.
He proved a worthy signing at the Wanda Metropolitano under Diego Simeone, asserting his quality as one of the league's best forwards. He amassed 15 goals last term, finishing as the club's top scorer.
A pacey forward with an eye for goal, Griezmann could prove a valuable addition to Barcelona's frontline if signed this summer. The French superstar has also excelled as a winger and offensive midfielder.
He would surely cost Barcelona a hefty sum of money. However, his valuable La Liga experience might convince the Catalans to sign him, and he will surely cost less than Neymar. Griezmann confirmed his Atletico departure in May, despite having 4 years remaining on his contract.
Lorenzo Insigne
The Italian winger has never left Napoli since joined the Partenopei in 2006. He was loaned to several clubs during his earlier spell with Napoli. However, He gradually grew into one of the best players in Serie A. He was a regular in his last 4 seasons with Napoli, amassing a total of 48 league goals.
Insigne was the club's standout performer in the Champions League. Despite Napoli early elimination from the tournament, the Italian scored 3 goals in a group consisting of PSG and Liverpool. Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis admitted that the Serie A outfits could sell Insigne if they receive an offer that will allow them to find a replacement for the star.
An agile winger with pinpoint passing, Insigne would fit Barcelona's playing style perfectly. He shares identical playing positions to Neymar, as he can play either as a left forward, centre forward or attacking midfielder. He would also be a valuable support for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez due to his excellent playmaking skills.
The 28-year-old might cost Barcelona a considerable amount of cash, but the Catalans can be rest assured that they would be paying close to how much Neymar could cost.
David Neres
Bought for a fee of £10 million 3 years ago, the Brazilian starlet quickly became one of Europe's most promising wingers. He has been instrumental for Ajax in his last 2 seasons, amassing a total of 22 league goals from 48 appearances as a starter.
He also became a standout performer in Ajax's incredible 2018/19 Champions League journey, scoring against top teams such as Real Madrid and Juventus. Many European top clubs are said to be interested in the 22-year-old due to the player's enormous potential.
Neres would be an exciting investment for Barcelona. His mesmerising movements on the pitch and his trademark jig after scoring have earned him the title "Samba King." Aside from his notable agility, the Brazilian star has thunderous pace and an eye for goal.
Neres already has considerable playing experience as a regular in the European top-flight, including 10 appearances as a starter in the Champions League. He is just 22 years old and has plenty of room for improvement. He could be a worthy alternative to Neymar.