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