FC Barcelona Have Two Weeks To Make Four Signings In Key Positions

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FC Barcelona Have Two Weeks To Make Four Signings In Key Positions

This is the conclusion made by SPORT on Tuesday morning, with the transfer deadline scheduled for October 5th. And though the window had been moving slowly until now, there have been several developments over the last couple of days.

These have mainly involved departures, with Ivan Rakitic returning to his former club Sevilla three weeks ago while Arturo Vidal has moved to Inter Milan and Luis Suarez could be on the verge of switching to Atletico Madrid.

None of these deals involve considerable amounts of money heading in Barça’s direction, but help to clear the payroll heading forward.

Cash strapped in having lost 300mn over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, and the three-month pause it imposed on European soccer, this does not help the Blaugrana replenish their squad and bring in new signings other than Pedri and Francisco Trincao, who were secured in better times.

Thankfully, however, the 35-40mn purchase of right back Nelson Semedo by Wolves in the Premier League PINC +0.2% can facilitate some approaches, though his exit leaves new head coach Ronald Koeman with just one right back in Sergi Roberto.

As a means of resolving this situation, Barça have made inquiries as to the availability of Sergino Dest from Ajax, yet the Dutch-born US international is apparently in advanced talks with Bayern Munich. Elsewhere, Norwich City do not want to part with Max Aarons, leaving the Catalans in a bind with Moussa Wague loaned out to PAOK.

Also along the back line, the funds obtained by offloading Semedo at least mean a better proposal can be made to Manchester City for Eric Garcia. Free to walk less than a year from now, the ex-La Masia academy graduate wants to return but the two outfits cannot agree on a figure.

In his 4-2-3-1, Koeman has room for five midfielders and had eyes for his former Netherlands national team charge Gini Wijnaldum until Jurgen Klopp convinced the Champions League winner to stay at Liverpool.

Riqui Puig told to seek a loan move elsewhere, it remains to be seen whether a center of the park strongman will still be snapped up.

Lastly, with Suarez on the outs, Barça do not boast a natural ‘9’ despite Koeman’s insistence on playing either one of Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann or Ansu Fati up top.

Memphis Depay of Lyon had been talked about, but he is still not a “killer” as the Spanish press refer to the likes of El Pistolero meaning the La Liga giants must move swiftly to restrengthen all these areas of the pitch.