Barring a spectacular collapse by Real Madrid, Barcelona will relinquish their La Liga title in rather quiet fashion.
The Catalan giants' poor start to the season convinced Xavi that stepping down as head coach this summer was the right option, and his departure could spark considerable upheaval at a club that is still struggling financially.
Players will inevitably have to leave to make room for new arrivals, with Frenkie de Jong, Robert Lewandowski, and Ronald Araujo among those rumored to be on their way out, and Barcelona will look for other ways to raise funds as well - president Joan Laporta enjoys a good lever or twenty, as we all know.
The question is, what does Barcelona need to do to match the playing field with a Real Madrid squad that will most certainly have Kylian Mbappe and Endrick next season, as well as Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo?
The following would be an excellent starting point...
1. Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak would be a reliable supplier of aims.
There's no arguing that Robert Lewandowski is one of the finest attackers of our time. His persistent appetite for goals helped Bayern Munich dominate the Bundesliga throughout his tenure there, and he felt completely robbed when Lionel Messi was awarded the Ballon d'Or in 2021.Despite putting up outstanding stats in his debut season at Barcelona, which earned him the Pichichi Trophy, it is evident that Lewandowski is not the right fit for the Catalan giants. Definitely not for the long term.Vitor Roque has already joined Barcelona and is expected to play an important part in the club's future. But assured goals and a touch of wow-factor perfectly describe Newcastle's Alexander Isak.He'll be expensive to prise away from St James' Park, but sometimes you have to pay a premium to get the best.Isak is already one of Europe's most prolific marksmen, and if he stays fit, you could argue that he will only improve.
2. Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo's adaptability is too valuable to give up.
Another must-have addition is a player who is already on loan at the club. No, it isn't Joao Felix, but rather his namesake, Joao Cancelo.Unquestionably, the Portuguese's game suffers from occasional lapses in focus, but his ability to play extraordinarily well on both wings is one of the most valuable talents in football.Cancelo also comes from a winning history, having won top flight titles in four different nations, and that mental power is required each year in the struggle against Real Madrid.
3. Alejandro Grimaldo.
Grimaldo plays in the Europa League for Bayer Leverkusen.
Barcelona's La Masia academy is well-known for producing some of Europe's most talented footballers.Pedri, Gavi, and Lamine Yamal are three of the most sought-after graduates in recent years, but late bloomer Alejandro Grimaldo appears to have slipped past the Catalan giants.The 28-year-old played 92 games for Barcelona B before deciding to join Benfica in 2016 when his contract was up. The Portuguese giants enjoyed seven years of excellent service before joining newly crowned Bundesliga winners Bayer Leverkusen last summer.Grimaldo's play on the other wing to Jeremie Frimpong has been fantastic, and although a move is almost probably out of the question. He'd be a valuable addition to the development of young Alejandro Balde.
Dani Olmo is another Barcelona youth product.
Barcelona's best scorer in La Liga this season is Lewandowski, who has 13 goals, but no other player has reached double figures. Felix, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal have all contributed, although there have been few goals from midfield.That is not to claim Dani Olmo will help in that area, but the 25-year-old offensive midfielder will undoubtedly bring a new aspect to the team's chances-creation.RB Leipzig is aware that they are fighting a losing battle to keep Olmo, and while there are reports that they will demand his €60 million release clause be paid in full if a deal is reached, they have previously been known to compromise if it benefits all sides.
Is Barcelona in need of more midfielders? Yes. Would Olmo be paid less than the potentially departing Frenkie de Jong? Yes. Will he be less volatile than fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan? Yes. Is he a good fit for the Catalan football style? Absolutely, yeah.
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