Summer Shopping: Who Should Barcelona Buy?
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Summer Shopping: Who Should Barcelona Buy?
Champions League: Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal(Getty Images)Being the most entertaining football team in the world, having the most fearsome attacking unit in football and not to mention becoming one of the greatest club sides in history simply isn’t enough for Barcelona.
The Catalan behemoths are hell-bent on strengthening the team even more and with Joan Laporta eager to bring in as many big name signings as he can before his presidential mandate is over, and the candidates to replace him looking to infuse their own influence in transfer matters when they move into office, the Blaugrana could have a wave of megastars in their dressing room next season.
Goalkeepers
No additions will be necessary here. After a spectacular season in which he won his third Zamora Trophy and was further rewarded with a call-up to the Spanish national team for the World Cup, Victor Valdes will not be going anywhere anytime soon.
Back-up goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto appears content to stay on and play second fiddle to Valdes and earn first team minutes in Copa del Rey games. In addition, coach Pep Guardiola could promote a youngster from the reserve team to start earning valuable experience and become Valdes’ deputy in the future, and eventually his successor.
Defence
Simultaneous injuries and suspensions have on occasion stretched Barcelona’s backline to the limit this past season, especially in the big games. Although they always seem to pull through unscathed, Guardiola needs sufficient depth in his defense if he wants to challenge for the treble again.
Dmytro Chygrynskiy’s woeful debut season could force Barca to look for a new centre-back to strengthen the rearguard, especially if the coaching staff does not feel that the Ukrainian can lift his game.
The Catalans already boast two of the best center-backs in Spain and no names have so far been linked to the club. Instead, a position that Barca may need to focus on is the left-back slot. Maxwell has provided decent cover, but a world class talent like Ashley Cole could effectively patch up the last of the team’s weak links. The Chelsea man fits Barca’s style of play as he loves to join in in attack, but he doesn’t neglect his defensive duties either.
Philipp Lahm could also be a good alternative, as his ability to play in both right and left full-back positions would allow Carles Puyol to remain at the heart of defense whenever Dani Alves is unavailable, or even allow Eric Abidal to be pushed inside to center-back.
In truth, there is no shortage of central-defensive cover at the Camp Nou. Gaby Milito and Rafa Marquez, when fully fit, are more than qualified deputies, while Henrique will return on loan from Racing Santander after a commendable season with the Cantabrians.
Midfield
One of Txiki Begiristain’s prime transfer objectives before his boss Joan Laporta leaves office is to sign a world class holding midfielder. And with Yaya Toure looking almost certain to leave Catalunya, there will be a need to fill the gap. One man who can take on that role is Javier Mascherano, who recently opened the door to a move to the Camp Nou by admitting that he wanted to join the Blaugrana last summer and Barcelona remains the city that appeals to him and his family the most.
The Argentine will not come cheap, however, and plans for the Liverpool man could be scratched if Laporta manages to pull off the biggest of coups and land
Cesc Fabregas.
The Arsenal captain is not a player that Barcelona are in desperate need of at present, but the temptation to bring back one of their starlets from La Masia is just too strong. Also, the risk of missing out on what could potentially be the only window of opportunity is just too great, especially now that Fabregas himself has admitted he wants to return to his boyhood club. And if Arsenal do agree to sell their star playmaker, then Barca should do all they can to bring him back to La Liga.
An alternative to Mascherano would be Athletic Bilbao’s Javi Martinez. The young midfielder, who is going to the World Cup with Spain, has recently been linked with Real Madrid, but rumors are that the Blaugrana are also keen on his services.
Attack
Do Barcelona really need more attacking firepower?
Having just signed David Villa, and with Laporta assuring that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not for sale, any more signings in attack will really tip the team off-balance. Just 24 hours after Barca officially sealed Villa’s transfer, rumors surfaced that presidential candidate Sandro Rosell had made Fernando Torres his election promise.
But with a transfer fee expected to skyrocket to the region of €75 million, a realistic swoop for ‘El Nino’ this summer is unlikely, unless Ibra is off-loaded for a significant amount.
Forgotten man Keirrison will remain on loan for another season at Fiorentina.
IN (3): Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
OUT (3): Yaya Toure, Aliaksandr Hleb, Thierry Henry
LOANS OUT (1): Dmytro Chygrynskiy
PROBABLE STARTING XI FOR 2010-11
Valdes
Dani Alves - Puyol - Pique - Lahm
Xavi - Mascherano - Fabregas
Messi - Villa - Iniesta