The Dutch coach has only arrived at Barcelona for almost a week now and he his already making some significant moves at the club and his first big move is in form of asking Luis Saurez to leave the club. Obviously, this hurts for most Barca fans out there but Saurez also consumes a huge wage bill including other like Pique, Alba, Umtiti, Busquets, Vidal and Rakitic, so Koeman plans to get rid of all these players but the case is different for Busquets.
However, the baseline is that Barca plans to make significant changes to actually make a dynamic team back again or according to Messi, “a winning project” and for that bidding farewell to some aged players is important. This year was one of the darkest seasons for the Blaugranas as they won no trophy and who can forget that humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern?
According to Mundo Deportivo, Koeman has met with Ramón Planes, the new technical secretary, and Oscar Grau, the CEO of the club. As MD says, after a few hours of meeting, the technical director did make give some names of the casualties they plan to make like Luis Suarez, Rakitic, Vidal, and Umtiti too will be asked to leave. However, Coutinho will be making his way back at the club and maybe Alba can be allowed this season.
Having strike out some big names you have to think about some players to replace them as well and the club will look forward to bring new players as well. As MD points out that their sources of the club have unveiled the dutch coach’s early directions:
DEFENSE
Barcelona plans to bring a central defender and two side ‘low cost’ full-backs but the club will not be looking for any goalkeepers.
Koeman knows he has two high-rated goalkeepers in the form of Ter Stegen and Neto. However, due to the German goalkeeper’s operation, the Brazilian will take up the responsibility for the first leg of next season and there’s the young and talented Iñaki Peña as well.
Now, things get a bit critical talking about a central defender, Barcelona will be looking for a good center-back who can do the job of Umtiti because the Frenchman can be sold this transfer window itself. However, as MD points out the central defender has to be an experienced central, who is looking to finish his contract and has a comparatively low salary. The most likely candidate for this role is now Eric Garcia.
Koeman has also asked for a substitute right-back for Nelson Semedo and another left-back if Junior Firpo ends up being traded, as they want to raise as many funds as possible. Jordi Alba will be playing on the left-hand side for another year but two of the left-backs should be bought at a cut-price. MD has even named both Estupiñán and Nouri the two potential candidates. Jose Gaya and Angelino rumors have also been floating for the past few days as well.
MIDFIELD
Koeman has informed the club that he wants to get rid of Vidal and Rakitic and he is good to have Riqui Puig to bring the dynamism to the midfield. The Dutch coach would not mind if both Busquets and Sergi Roberto, especially Roberto continues, however, in that position now the club has got Pjanic.
Koeman could actually implement a dual pivot system that will require a lot of physique and dynamism. Even though Roberto may get into the starting XI, Busquets may have to come off the bench if chooses to stay at the club. Then comes the role of creative midfielders and Koeman who is a fan of Coutinho, wants the Brazilian to make the key passes for the attacks.
MD also points out that getting hold of either Van de Beek and Fabian Ruiz will be difficult in this economical crisis. However, if some arrangements can be done Koeman will obviously try to bring the talented Dutch midfielder to the club.
FORWARD
Luis Suárez’s contract will be terminated and so the club needs their next number 9 which indeed will be a hard avenue to go through in this kind of economic crisis, however, if club wages reduce, then still there are possibilities.
Lautaro Martinez is the most likely candidate to be the next no 9 of the club and the club really wants the Argentine striker and Messi also likes him as well. Koeman has his other attacking options covered with the likes of Pedri, Trincao, and the other non-transferable including Dembélé, Griezmann, and Ansu Fati.
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