According to BBC Sport, FC Barcelona are ready to offload Ivan Rakitic, Jean-Clair Todibo and Ousmane Dembele (on loan) in an attempt to reduce Paris Saint-Germain’s sensational €200 million valuation for Neymar. PSG, in fact, have accepted the offer, though none of the three players wants to be used as a sweetener for Barca’s deal to sign the Brazilian and have thus rejected a switch.
With just a few days left till the European transfer windows slams shut, we will discuss why Barcelona should just drop their pursuit of Neymar this summer.
Young guns showing promise
One of the main reasons why Barcelona are so keen on re-signing Neymar is because of their lack of quality in the attacking department. Dembele has struggled with injuries while Philippe Coutinho has joined Bayern Munich on a season-long loan deal.
But at the same time, the club has unearthed two exciting youngsters in Carles Perez and Ansu Fati. The latter, in particular, became the second-youngest player to represent the Catalan outfit, during the win against Real Betis. At the age of 16, he is regarded as the next best thing in football.
Perez, on the other hand, scored in the same game and linked up well with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and co. The 21-year-old is sort of a late bloomer, but he has the quality to become a valuable first-team option for Barcelona. The addition of Neymar, however, will take a massive toll on the first-team chances of these two players.
Giving Dembele another opportunity
After an injury-ravaged debut campaign in Catalonia, Dembele showed a lot of promise last season. And although his form deteriorated after he picked up another injury, the Frenchman is starting to get more and more familiarised with the nature of Spanish football.
This season, in particular, could be the breakout season Dembele was hoping for. He is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury. But, he is expected to return next month and will be keen to make an impression at Barcelona finally.
Should the Blaugrana drop their pursuit of Neymar, Dembele will play a prominent role in the first-team, especially with Coutinho joining Bayern. And the lack of competition in attack might enable the 22-year-old to play with more freedom in the final third. Hence, Dembele deserves a second chance.
Wait out till January
It’s probably needless to say that the likelihood of Neymar’s return to Barcelona is sure to increase in the upcoming January transfer window. PSG will have time to evaluate their options as far as a replacement is concerned, making it somewhat easier to offload the Brazilian.
The French club’s valuation for Neymar could also decrease, especially if the player sustains an injury or fails to replicate his performances in this new season. Although Barcelona won’t be able to utilise the winger in the UEFA Champions League if they sign him in January, they will be able to get their hands on one of the best players in the world, who can still play at the top level for at least three-four years.
