It is not a secret anymore that Barcelona are looking to sell a number of their players to fund moves for bigger stars. It is evident that stars like Lionel Messi and Gerard Piqué, who are indispensable members of the squad, are safe as the club would not be able to find their alternatives. However, there are others whose future hangs in the balance, and one such man is Arturo Vidal.
Mundo Deportivo now reports that the Chilean star has expressed his desire to stay at the Catalan club as it has been claimed that he feels better than ever in Spain. Vidal is not the only man though, as both Rakitic and Neto have also made the same assertions. Others such as Umtiti, Junior, Emerson and even Suarez have conveyed their mindset to continue for the Cules.
Here we take a look at three such payers whom we think Barcelona should actually keep in their squad, rather than offloading at this juncture.
Neto
The Brazilian goalkeeper joined the Catalans last season from Valencia while Jasper Cillessen moved the other way. There is no doubt that Ter Stegen has improved his game immensely since joining the Spanish giants and he would be the unanimous number one choice for the club.
However, Neto has the pedigree and the talent to act as the backup keeper, and his performances in the Champions League and his solitary league match has proven the same. The Catalans are already on the lookout to fill several slots and letting go of Neto would mean that they would have to find a new backup keeper, a job that they should want to avoid right now.
Junior Firpo
The left-back has made 12 appearances in the La Liga this season after his transfer from Betis last summer. With Jordi Alba as the only other alternative for the said position, it is too early for Barca to part with Firpo. The defender has done decently for the team this season, and many believe that in the long term, he can be a good option for Setién.
His technical prowess and skillset have made the player a hot prospect in the league, and with proper tutelage, his potential could further improve. The 23-year-old also has a certain versatility, being able to play both as a central defender or a winger, thus enhancing his worth further.
Arturo Vidal
Getting rid of both Vidal and Rakitić in the same transfer window may suddenly put a toll on the depth of the midfield and therefore the club must think of keeping one among the veterans. With the Croatian completely unsettled at Catalonia, our pick is Vidal.
Indeed, the Chilean is already 33 and way past his prime, but still, he has enough steam left in him to continue for at least one more year for the Blaugrana. With Vidal in the squad, the gaffer would not have to think about the backup in the central midfield position and could concentrate on more pressing areas in the transfer window.
