Barca eyeing reinforcements
On the back of their Champions League semi-final humiliation this past season, Ernesto Valverde’s Barca have been linked with a whole host of moves on the transfer front.
The Blaugrana’s frontline understandably appears to be the main area of concern for the club’s board.
With Philippe Coutinho having failed to perform under the weight of expectation at the Camp Nou, Luis Suarez some way short of his brilliant best, Ousmane Dembele struggling with persistent injuries and Malcom seemingly not up to the standard required of a Barcelona player, it should come as little surprise to find that attacking reinforcements look set to arrive in Catalunya this summer.
Griezmann AND Neymar?
To this point, the two main players touted as potential arrivals have been Antoine Griezmann and Neymar.
Atletico star man Griezmann is set to be on the move this summer, having announced his intention to depart the Wanda Metropolitano back in May:
‘It’s been an incredible five years. Thank you very much for everything. I will take you in my heart.’
And Barca have long been the favourites to secure a deal for the French World Cup winner.
Speculation surrounding the future of PSG wide-man Neymar, meanwhile, has majorly ramped up over the last couple of weeks, amid claims that both the Brazilian and Barcelona are keen on a reunion this summer.
Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr. celebrate during the Copa Del Rey Final between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
And, as per the aforementioned update from Alfredo Martinez, regarded as Tier 1 when it comes to Barcelona transfer news, the Spanish champions appear to be pushing forward with their attempts to coax both Griezmann and Neymar to the club.
First off, Martinez suggests that the former’s move to the Camp Nou from Atleti should be completed this week.
The plan would then be to hold Griezmann’s presentation on the 10th of June.
On Neymar, meanwhile, a meeting between the Brazilian’s father and a representative from Barcelona is set to take place in Brazil tomorrow, during which a potential return to Catalunya will be mapped out.
Dembele to Bayern?
While such a pair of signings would obviously mark remarkable business on the part of the Blaugrana, they would not come without sacrifices being made.
And, though most rumours regarding potential big-money departures from Ernesto Valverde’s squad this summer have surrounded Philippe Coutinho, Martinez instead suggests that it could be another of Barca’s attackers who is on the move.
The player in question is Ousmane Dembele. Martinez claims that Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich could lure the Frenchman to Germany for 100 million Euro, with Dembele viewed as an alternative to Manchester City’s Leroy Sane.