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Barcelona’s Summer Transfer Targets

Chris Linnell
Chris Linnell

Barcelona may have all-but-won the league title, however, after suffering a humiliating 7-0 aggregate defeat versus Bayern Munich, the club’s fans will be far from happy.

Tito Vilanova’s side will be desperate to improve the squad over the summer months, to reinstate themselves as the World’s greatest team.

Here’s a look at the players who have been linked with a move to the Camp Nou over the past few weeks.

Neymar

La Blaugrana’s over-reliance on Lionel Messi became startlingly clear over the course of the two-legged affair with die Bayern. His limp performance at the Allianz Arena was very forgettable, while his absence in the second left Cesc Fabregas flailing around on his own in attack.

Messi’s durability has seen him play almost every game Barca have had in the last three years, and yes, taking the guy who scores nearly 100 goals a year off is going to harm your side.

Barcelona are set to sign “four or five” new players this summer, including Santos sensation Neymar, according to vice-president Josep Bartomeu.

Bartomeu says that the Catalans are keen to refresh their squad for next season and claims that they are still interested in signing the young Brazilian.

These  rumours have been hotting up and with this disappointing, Messi-less exit, expect that deal to be pushed through.

Mats Hummels

The only other position on the shopping list this summer will be centre-back. Gerard Pique has been unimpressive, Carles Puyol is in rapid decline, Javier Mascherano isn’t a natural and Marc Bartra needs time.

Mats Hummels is the obvious choice here, but he’ll be very difficult to attain: Dortmund’s squad is being ripped apart with the losses of Robert Lewandowski and MarioGoetze, so Juergen Klopp is unlikely to sanction a third key player sale.

Vincent Kompany

Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany is another option to fill the current void at centre back, he is believed to be a summer target for Barcelona.

The defender’s time at Manchester City has been glorious, and fans would hate to lose their enamoured club captain. But this hasn’t prevented any rumours from circulating.

Barca are long-term admirers of the Belgian, rated among the best central defenders in the world.

Kompany would prove a costly signing due to City’s financial prowess, and I imagine Tito Vilanova would do better to look elsewhere.

Daniel Agger

Agger has been an ever present feature for club and country this season, clocking up 43 appearances.

Reports from Spain have surfaced that Javier Mascherano, who knows Agger during his time at Anfield, has endorsed his signing.

The club made a preliminary enquiry about Liverpool’s Danish defender last summer, but didn’t follow up when he signed a new four-year contract.

With veteran defender Carlos Puyol now 34 years old and coming to the end of the line, Barca want to reduce their age profile and are ready to return with a firm bid at the end of the season.

Wayne Rooney

The England international’s Old Trafford future has been the subject of much conjecture following Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to leave him on the bench for United’s last 16 Champions League second leg against Real Madrid.

Moreover, Rooney has come into PSG’s thinking, however the club denied rumours earlier this month that a deal for him has been agreed.

It seems Barca are ready to test United’s waters with a summer bid.

Spanish paper El Mundo Deportivo claims Rooney is a long-term admirer of Lionel Messi as well as Andres Iniesta. But then again, who isn’t?

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