FC Barcelona has succeeded in achieving its priority objective: to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League. Of course, such a club is expected to be in the fight for the La Liga title every year, but given how the season started, we can say that Xavi Hernandez has done a good job. However, the former midfielder knows that many things must change for his troops to be competitive in Europe next season.
As indicated The Play Bar, the Catalan coach has already asked for seven recruits from his management, who will have rather limited room for maneuver except for big sales, the club’s situation still being a little tense financially speaking. The media explains that Xavi wants a reinforcement in the cages to support Marc-André ter Stegen, and that Iñaki Peña, currently on loan at Galatasaray, will be back to join the first team.
Quite a list
In defense, the former number 8 of La Roja wants up to two side. One on the right, who is very likely to be César Azpilicueta of Chelsea, while on the left flank Barca are exploring several options, such as Marcos Alonso, also a Blues player, as well as José Luis Gaya of Valencia and Alejandro Grimaldo of Benfica, former of La Masia by the way. In the axis, as mentioned by many media, it would already be done for Andreas Christensen, who will arrive free of any contract following the end of his lease with Chelsea.
Franck Kessié will also arrive for free from Milan to strengthen the midfield, where Xavi is asking for a second player, especially in the event of the departure of Frenkie de Jong. Barca are thus working on the track leading to Ruben Neves from Wolverhampton. Up front, the Catalan wants two players, with Raphinha (Leeds) and Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) as priorities. Suffice to say that Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany have their work cut out for them.
