Paul Pogba, Marco Verratti, Laporte, Stones, David De Gea, Nolito, Pierre Aubameyang and Ilkay Gundogan amongst others are all top players most teams in Europe would like to see in their team. Most of these players have been targeted or linked to top teams in Europe, for the next summer transfer window. FC Barcelona were linked with almost all these players in the past transfer window and some are still being linked to the club currently but the financial restraints on the Catalan club arising from failed negotiations with Qatar Airways means they will be most unlikely to persuade most of these players to join the club unless they land a new bumper deal.
Known for utilizing their B team players and their respective Masia graduates, Barcelona might yet again have to turn to these players this time round. Josep Pep Guardiola was one of the coaches to utilize La Masia gradutes from the B team a lot, adapting Johan Cruijff’s tiki-taka style he decided to use the players who had perfected the style from the La Masia Academy and they were more than capable of playing in those roles. He didn’t look down upon them as kids or didn’t look out to purchase “big name” players from the market. Most will argue that La Masia and the Barca B team are not producing top quality players in comparison with past times e.g. Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Lionel Messi or Pedro. Most of the time these new players are sent on loan to try to fulfill their predicted potential. Also the style of the team has changed since the appointment of current coach Luis Enrique, he prefers a more direct approach, physical, pressing style and much more faster than the possession-based game utilized by Guardiola, Tito and Tata from 2008 to 2014 and this can be seen in the change of type of players that have arrived at the Camp Nou since his appointment but nevertheless there are Barca B/La Masia (graduates) players that can bail Barcelona out again. Some of these players are either on loan, sold with a buyback option or still playing for the B team.
First name on the list is Sergi Samper. The 21 year old central defensive midfielder has been tipped by many to follow the footsteps of Sergio Busquets and eventually be his successor. Samper may not be having the best of seasons currently seeing as Barca B have had a very rocky season but the potential of Samper cannot be overlooked that even Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has attempted to lure him from the Catalan club twice. He just needs more playing time to prove himself. Another obvious selection is Denis Suarez on loan to Villarreal, probably the most likely person to be brought back to the Camp Nou for the 2016/17 season. He is having a fantastic spell at Villarreal helping them to the quarter finals stage of the Europa League whiles they also currently sit 4th in La Liga. A very good set piece taker amongst others and will be a perfect addition to the squad. Barcelona was never going to let a talented player such as Deulofeu leave for good for just £4.2 million. With the buyback clause inserted in his deal to Goodison Park, Barcelona can buy the youngster back for just £6.3 million this summer transfer window. Some people might forget Cristian Tello on loan in Fiorentina, probably this’ the best time to bring him back to the Camp Nou considering how he has progressed and is fulfilling his potential and probably could get better. With the new style used in Barca he will be a perfect fit to the team, and of course he’s not alien to the passing game also, considering he’s a good passer. A very good dribbler and distributer of the ball.
Lets not forget Real Madrid has always bought the most expensive and flashy players on the market and have only won the league tittle once in seven years, clearly going out for the popular players on the market is not really the solution.
By Alfred Amoah
@FCBAmoah
The Conventional Playmaker 