FC Barcelona has had to progressively adjust its recruitment plan for this 2024/25 summer transfer window. Why? Due to various situations that have arisen, perhaps the most challenging being the unresolved situation with financial fair play and compliance with the 1/1 rule. This has hindered them from fully diving into player acquisitions, having to proceed with 'surgical' precision in the additions made so far, such as Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. These acquisitions sharply contrast with the 15 departures the club has experienced this summer window, including transfers, loans, and players leaving on free transfers.
Nevertheless, the Blaugrana team maintains hope for new signings this summer. This optimism focuses on the possibility of finalizing a 'lucrative' agreement with Nike, which if approved, would allow Barça to improve its conditions in LaLiga, comply with the 1/1 rule, and of course, alleviate the pressure of the salary cap. This could enable the Catalan entity to make a last-minute signing to complete the squad. However, due to recent departures, the squad, which initially looked promising, is now affected by needs that the team must prioritize.
At this point, in our survey at FCBN, we have identified three areas in which the Barcelona team could consider reinforcing this summer if they manage to resolve all pending issues. These areas are the defense, the midfield, and the attacking front, each with compelling reasons as detailed below:
Why Reinforcing the Defense is Necessary?
The first area to consider is the defensive line, a sector that initially seemed to have an abundance of players, which is paradoxical, isn't it? Currently, the Catalan outfit has only three available defenders in the first team: Pau Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, and Jules Koundé, with the latter being the team's regular right-back.
The shortage of players in defense is due to two factors: firstly, the Barcelona exodus has been effective, with Clément Lenglet being loaned to Atlético Madrid and Mika Faye being transferred to Stade Rennes. Secondly, a series of injuries have affected the team in recent days, sidelining Andreas Christensen (left Achilles tendinopathy), Ronald Araújo (right hamstring tendon rupture), and Eric García (right foot plantar fasciitis) in this area of the field. It is expected that the first two players will not return soon.
This situation has led Flick to turn to youth academy players like Sergi Domínguez and Andrés Cuenca to provide depth in the position. However, these players lack experience in La Liga, which could prompt Barcelona to seek an emergency center-back in the remaining days of this summer.
Why Reinforcing the Midfield is Necessary?
The second area to consider appears to be the midfield, which has been weakened by the unfortunate injury to Marc Bernal, expected to be long-term. With the loss of this asset that Hansi Flick considered ideal for bolstering the midfield, and in the absence of other players who could play in that position like Frenkie de Jong (severe grade two sprain in his right ankle) or Pablo Gavi (complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and an associated injury to the lateral meniscus), in addition to the departure of İlkay Gündoğan, Barcelona could opt for two alternatives: giving Marc Casadó the definitive chance to become the dynamic midfielder that the German coach desires, or exploring the market for a new option to address this need.
Why Reinforcing the Left Wing is Necessary?
Lastly, the primary focus for the Blaugrana team this summer is the recruitment of a left winger, aiming to strengthen the position with a skillful player, capable of dribbling and good one-on-one play. In the absence of signings this summer, the Heidelberg native has managed to address this with a 'mix' between Ferran Torres and Raphinha in that spot. Also anticipated is the return of Ansu Fati from injury, as he is a high-quality left winger who, when fully fit, could be a luxurious addition to that position, reducing the urgency to acquire a new player for that area of the field.