Barça explores free agent market for reinforcements
With the departure of Leo Messi looking increasingly unlikely, Barça is determined to bounce back despite limited economic and sporting resources. Recent reports suggest that the club has turned its attention to the free agent market and has identified half a dozen potential targets that could help strengthen the team without significant financial costs.
Xavi Hernandez and Mateu Alemany lead the search
The club’s sports management, led by Xavi Hernandez and Mateu Alemany, is keen to bolster the team’s core and attacking options. However, the number of positions that need reinforcement largely depends on the number of departures. In this article, we take a look at six possible targets that could help Barça regain lost ground in the coming season.
Ilkay Gundogan and Adrien Rabiot
The first player on the list is Ilkay Gundogan. The Manchester City midfielder has just won the European Championship with his club and although City reportedly wants to renew his contract, he is yet to commit to a new deal, making him a free agent. Adrien Rabiot is another player that Barça could potentially sign as he is set to leave Juventus this summer.
Moussa Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Angel Di Maria, and Roberto Firmino
Four high-profile players – Moussa Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Angel Di Maria, and Roberto Firmino – are also on Barça’s radar. All four players are approaching the end of their current contracts and would be available at zero cost. While Di Maria would add depth to the team’s wings, the other three players could potentially fill in at center forward, a position that Xavi and Alemany are keen to strengthen in the event that Lewandowski leaves the club. Firmino, in particular, is being touted as a possible replacement for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.