5 wingers that Barcelona should be looking at for next season

And so it came to pass that FC Barcelona mathematically won the La Liga title for the seventh time in 10 years after a hard-fought 4-2 win over a resilient but now relegated Deportivo La Coruna side.

This title win is made even sweeter when viewed against the backdrop of the troubles that had enveloped the team at the beginning of the season with fans openly calling for the resignation of club president Josep Bartomeu and his board members especially over the soap opera that was the Neymar transfer saga.

The Barca attack has become too dependant on Lionel Messi and has lacked vigour and pace as Luis Suarez has been a shadow of himself while youngster Ousmane Dembélé has impressed in fits and starts.

Too many times this season, the frontline has looked slow and cumbersome and too often, the team has had to rely on Messi’s brilliance to bail them out. On the occasions where the Argentine legend has not been up to the task, Barca have failed (the 2nd leg UCL quarter-final against AS Roma a case in point).

Younger, faster wingers to help speed up the play and stretch opposing defences will be needed next season. Given the club’s need to reduce spending and the wage bill, players who could cost up to a €100m+ like Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Kylian Mbappe (PSG) and others may not be valid options.

Here are five talented wing wizards that the Blaugrana should be looking at:

#5 Richarlison (Watford)

Playing in his first season in European football following a £11.5m move to the Premier League side from Brazilian club Fluminense, the 20-year-old has shown that with the right coaching and in the right environment, he can thrive and do more.

His pace, strength, elusiveness, and skills bamboozled the league in the first half of the season as defences couldn’t cope with him in the early, heady days of Marco Silva at Vicarage Road.

Like the rest of his teammates, he has faded badly as the season has gone on and has not contributed a goal or an assist in his last 15 Premier League matches.

Given the uncertain nature of teams with the Hornets, Richarlison should not be judged too harshly as he has shown enough talent to suggest that he could get even better at a place like Barcelona.

His pace and ability to be effective on either flank would offer Ernesto Valverde an outlet for stretching teams and with Messi and other creators like Phillipe Coutinho in the team, having a player like him could prove a masterstroke.

It is unclear how much he would go for but a bid of £40m might just do the trick.

#4 Goncalo Guedes (On loan at Valencia from PSG)

Guedes playing alongside Messi would be superb for the Blaugrana

For a very long time, Spain’s Iberian brothers; Portugal have excelled at creating wingers, some of who have graced the green pitch of the Camp Nou and have succeeded to varying degrees (Luis Figo, Simao Sabrosa and Ricardo Quaresma among others).

One of the current crop of Portuguese wingers doing good things and who might be a perfect fit the Blaugrana is the diminutive Guedes.

The product of the famous Benfica academy has taken to life in La Liga like a fish to water following his loan move to the Mestalla from French champions PSG.

With pace to burn, an intelligence that older players would envy and the skills to be effective on either flank or behind the main striker, Guedes’ brilliance will add a new dimension to the attack as his unpredictability would help draw defenders away from the other forwards.

Valencia’s owner David Lim is said to be making serious efforts to get the 22-year-old’s signature on a permanent basis but president Bartomeu could swoop in and get the Portuguese to join the team instead.

Given the strained relationship between Barca and PSG over the Neymar transfer and the chase of Marco Veratti, a deal may be difficult but not impossible as the French side need to sell some players to meet FFP regulations.

#3 Inaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao)

Inaki would be a great signing for Barca

A player who has been earmarked for great things since he burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced teenager a few years ago, Williams has shown enough to suggest that he is ready for the step up in quality that Barcelona represents.

The Spanish U-21 international has long been on the radar of major clubs in Europe like Juventus, Liverpool, Napoli and many more and given his displays this season, he looks set to be a hot property in the transfer market this summer.

Fast, strong, skilful and with a lot of room for improvement, Inaki has sometimes had to play as the main attacking protagonist at times for Athletic Club as manager José Ángel Ziganda has given him more responsibilities this season as he has plundered 7 goals and 5 assists in all competitions so far.

He would offer qualities that are very similar to that of a 24-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo with the added bonus of the Camp Nou faithful being able to watch him develop into the world-class attacker it is obvious he can become.

If he can be signed, Barca would be getting a fleet-footed winger who can be deployed anywhere across the frontline and would work sweetly in tandem with players like Messi, Suarez, Coutinho and more.

Having recently signed a new deal to stay at San Mames, his new buyout clause is quite pricey but for his talent, he could be worth it for the Blaugrana.

#2 Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad)

The youngster has come into his own this season

One of the rising stars of Spanish football, Oyarzabal has been one of the best players in La Liga this season and has been the go-to guy alongside Willian Jose and Alvaro Odriozola for a Sociedad side that has been struggling in recent months

The 21-year-old is the latest in a line of Spanish left footed wingers who major qualities include are pace and a good instinct for getting into goalscoring positions; see players like Pedro Munitis & Joel Amavisca.

Among the youngster's greatest strengths is his exceptional crossing ability, something which Valverde’s men should do more of especially in tight games. The youngster has been much improved this season as his game is more direct now and he is even more capable of taking on and beating players.

He may not be the quickest, but Oyarzabal is always reading the game, assessing the next phase of play and running into space to provide an outlet for teammates. This would be brilliant for Barca as it means he could be used to stretch play on either flank or in case of an injury, he could fill in for Messi in that central free role

A huge fan favourite, he has gotten 13 goals and 6 assists in all competitions this season and is said to have a reported €50m clause.

#1 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)

The Jamaican could be the missing piece for the Barca attack

The one youngster who ticks all the boxes for what Barcelona need for next season, Bailey has had a barnstormer of a season and it is almost certain that he would not be at the Bayer Arena next season

A pacy and skilful dribbler who is capable of functioning on either flank, he has a mean left foot and is also excellent at dead ball situations Like most wingers, he is not the tallest player but what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for in agility and pace.

This season, he has been key to the Werkself's push for a UEFA Champions League place for next season as his goals, assists, and team ethos has made him one of the go-to guys in the side.

Capable of also being deployed as a false 9 as well, Bailey has been the standout performer of a young crop of excellent attacking talent at Bayer Leverkusen.

His brilliance would be of great benefit to Barcelona as his pace, shooting ability and improved crossing would mean less creative work for someone like Messi while Suarez and other strikers like Paco Alcacer would benefit from his excellent service.

He has scored 12 times and made 6 assists this season and under the tutelage of people like Messi and manager Valverde, he could become something extra special.