Positions that need reinforcing at Barcelona to guarantee success

#3 Needle Player

Age is just a number for The Artist

Iniesta's replacement. Labelled as The Artist, Iniesta isn't showing any signs of old age -dazzling his opponent's with his slick footwork and dribbling quality. Valverde knows that later in the season Iniesta must be taken care of in terms of playing minutes; fielding him for 90 minutes in 2 consecutive games is almost out of the question.

The player willing to replace the Spaniard must have the same qualities on the ball in addition to being proactive in terms of making late runs inside the opposition's box. Why's that? It all has to do with Messi's movement deep into midfield. When done in full synergy, the opposing defenders wouldn't know who to mark: Messi or the rushing central midfielder?

There's no discussion that the perfect player for this position is Coutinho. Barcelona's directors are upping their game with Liverpool in order to land the Brazilian, with rumours being circulated that a winter surprise could be possible for the Catalans. In general, whether it will be this winter or next summer, Coutinho will be the most important piece of Ernesto Valverde's plan for implementing the False Nine 4-3-3 with Barcelona.