Barcelona have had a season of mixed emotions thus far with the Catalans gaining momentum as we approach the business end of the season. Following a slow start in the La Liga title race, Barcelona are well-positioned to compete for the trophy trailing table toppers, Atletico Madrid, by four points.
In the Spanish Cup, Barcelona have reserved their place in the Final alongside Atheltic Bilbao. Against the odds, Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona team overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit. However, the club are not alive in Europe’s elite club competition, the UEFA Champions League following their 5-2 aggregate defeat at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.
With the Primera Division title race already being evenly contested with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, Barcelona are not certain of any sort of silverware this season. The club is bound to make changes and the poor performers of the current season could be heading to the exit doors at the Camp Nou Stadium. The 4th Official lists out the Catalonian club’s poor performers of the season –
Barcelona Summer Transfer Talk
Defence
Clement Lenglet
Despite all of the minutes Lenglet has got this season, the Frenchman has failed to make the most out of it and in fact made matters worse by repetitive errors in defence. Lenglet has been guilty of making poor challenges throughout the season and a club of Barcelona’s stature certainly deserve a better central defender. It will make sense for both the parties involved to part ways when the season comes to a close.
Samuel Umtiti
After a promising start to his Barcelona career, Umtiti has gradually faded away. From being the first pick alongside Gerard Pique to being the 4th choice central defender, Umtiti’s growth trajectory has been disappointingly downhill. It will make sense for the Catalans to sell Umtiti and permanently promote Oscar Mingueza and Ronald Araujo to the first team.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets
After all the hard work and dedication over the years for the Barcelona crest, it seems like the right time for Busquets to part ways with his boyhood club. The player’s overall gameplay has gradually declined in the past one season or so and Busquets no longer looks like the player for the big occasions. With Pedri, Riqui Puig and Frenkie de Jong present at the club, Busquets’ absence will barely pinch the squad.
Attack
Ousmane Dembele
Dembele’s time at Barcelona has been crippled with injuries since his dream switch in 2017. The player has failed to nail down his place in the starting line-up and the performances have not done justice to the enormous amount of money the Catalans spent on Dembele. With just 23 years of age, it seems like the right moment for Dembele to make the next move in his career. The money inflow from Dembele’s sale will help Barcelona ease the financial situation to a certain extent.
