Barcelona have been surprisingly quiet this summer despite their poor finish to the campaign last time. And following a managerial change and fans’ outrage, the Catalans were expected to go through a massive revamp before they commence next season.
However, except getting in Nelson Semedo from Benfica, Gerard Deulofeu from Everton and Marlon from Fluminense, manager Ernesto Valverde has found it difficult to do business. Barcelona are still in search for that one marquee signing, who could pave the way for their future as they approach a transition stage.
Despite having three world class forwards in Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi up front, Barcelona’s blood line looked clipped when they had to play without Andres Iniesta last season. The likes of Andre Gomes, Ivan Rakitic and Rafinha have only been up to the mark, missing the extra touch, which would make them Barcelona.
While Luis Enrique had failed to identify it last time when he got in players last time, the new manager is well aware of it following their disastrous European and domestic campaign last season. And if reports are to be believed, they are now eyeing a move for Chelsea’s talisman Eden Hazard.
The last transfer, in all probability, remains the biggest one for them this summer it seems. Eden Hazard hasn’t been their first priority in the attacking midfield position though. Liverpool’s Phillipe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti have seen one of Europe’s top clubs chasing them, but such has been the inflated market that Barca have failed to meet their asking price.
They are expected to go all out in the last month of the transfer period but given the quintessential player Hazard has been for the London club, Barca are probably going to fail in his pursuit. When asked their manager Antonio Conte about it, the Italian said, “I don’t know anything about this situation. In the past, I read a lot of stories about (Hazard going to) Real Madrid and now there is Barcelona. This is the transfer market and we must understand this.”
The attacking midfielder, who had arrived at Stamford Bridge from Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille back in 2012, has been one of the best buys in the history of the club. The Belgian international has been impactful right from the start scoring 72 goals and providing 62 assists over the past five seasons, where he has played 249 games so far.
He is extremely versatile in the attacking third possessing phenomenal passing and dribbling abilities. His quality could surely take Barcelona to a whole new level who prefer playing fluid football. Hence, if the Catalans do manage to land him against insurmountable odds, they will be European superpower for many years to come.
