As seems to be the case every year, it’s a big summer for Barcelona.
There are areas of the squad that were lacking last season and while Xavi’s side were very impressive in their La Liga title win, Real Madrid should not have let Barça develop such a big lead at the top.
They will try to defend their La Liga crown against Real who have strengthened and an Atletico Madrid side that ended last season extremely well. They also need to make a splash in the Champions League, where they exited in the group stage last time out.
Barcelona have already secured Inigo Martinez and Ilkay Gundogan on free transfers, with defender Martinez bringing proven La Liga experience and Gundogan arriving as one of the best midfielders in the world after some stellar years at Manchester City.
Having already agreed a deal for Brazilian youngster Vitor Roque to arrive next summer, what players must Barcelona focus on now to bring immediate quality to the team?
Another Manchester City player who could be heading to Catalonia this summer is Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese attacking midfielder has constantly been linked away from the Premier League as he seeks to be a more integral part of a top side than he is at City.
This move could spell the departure of a player like Ferran Torres as there are only so many attacking players who aren’t strikers Xavi needs in his squad, but there is certainly scope to suggest Silva would be an upgrade on what they currently have.
Barça are facing competition from Paris Saint-Germain for the former Monaco star, however, and the £75m asking price has so far proved too steep.
Barcelona must adequately replace Sergio Busquets at the base of the midfield, something much easier said than done.
They were chasing Marcelo Brozovic from Inter for a very long time and there were moments where it seemed the move could happen, but Al Nassr found the agreement with the Nerazzurri first.
Girona’s Oriol Romeu is another defensive midfielder heavily linked with Barcelona. There was a recent back and forth between Barcelona president Joan Laporta and Girona president Pere Guardiola where the former claimed Barcelona would be helping Girona by buying Romeu.
Guardiola responded: “If Barça wants to do us a favour, they don’t sign Oriol from us. It’s a reality. We’re planning the season with him here, so they’re not doing us any favours.”
He did confirm that meetings have taken place, though. A move is certainly very possible and while it wouldn’t be glamorous, it would address an area Barcelona are lacking in without breaking the bank.
There is a need for more full backs at Barcelona, although they are blessed that Alejandro Balde developed into the natural successor for Jordi Alba at left back throughout the 2022/23 season.
At right back, though, they are lacking.
Joao Cancelo is certainly the best available right back on the market and can play on the left or further up the pitch, which is a bonus. There is a desire to bring him in on loan from Manchester City, but Arsenal and Bayern are hovering over the situation and could make more desirable permanent offers.
There are a whole host of teams looking to sign Gabri Veiga from Celta Vigo this summer, which gives the Spanish suitors an advantage when negotiating the final transfer fee.
A lot of top sides are looking closely at Veiga, although Real Madrid’s signing of Arda Guler may preclude them from the €40m-rated attacking midfielder.
At only 21, Barça would have a great player on their hands for years to come if they could snare a deal and Veiga proves a hit.
