Already getting ready for his potential new job, Xavi identifies four new signings to get the club back on track upon his arrival. Barcelona are having one of the worst seasons and there was no improvement visible under Ronald Koeman. Because of which, the disappointing 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano sealed his fate.
Ronald Koeman was sacked by the club following the defeat, which ended his 14-month tenure with the Blaugrana. They soon started searching for his replacement and it was their former player, Xavi Hernandez who emerged as their primary option. It was reported that Joan Laporta had held talks with him a few days ahead of the sacking to discuss his role at the club.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that it is only a matter of time before he is announced as all the verbal agreements have been completed. The only hiccup in the deal is the contract with Xavi’s current club, Al-Sadd who have a termination clause inserted in his contract.
Xavi Identifies Four New Star-Studded Players For His Overhaul
Until the final details are sorted out with the Saudi outfit, the club have appointed Sergi Barjuan, Barcelona B team head coach as the interim manager. But Xavi has already started planning the requirements for his revamp, according to El Nacional. It happens to be seen how many out of the four could be landed given the financial crisis they are witnessing. We will be looking at the players which Xavi identifies as the priorities for the overhaul at Barcelona.
Erling Haaland
The first on the list is none other than the most wanted Norwegian goal-scoring machine. Haaland has taken the world by storm and is in huge demand across Europe. His value has risen enormously, making him unachievable with a price tag of £150 million set by Borussia Dortmund.
Although he won’t be pursued this January, the next summer window can grant them an opportunity. Erling Haaland has a clause in his contract that will make him available for just £75 million in the 2022/23 season. Barcelona will be hoping to create the funds amidst their debt-ridden situation. However, they will also have to pray as there are plenty of suitors with no shortage of money waiting for his clause to be activated.
The only upper hand for them is the interest from their president. Laporta had mentioned earlier that Haaland was their primary target. As long as the president has not given up, Barcelona are equal favourites for the 21-year-old striker.
Paul Pogba
Surprisingly, the cheapest and the most sensible option on Xavi’s list. Paul Pogba is undoubtedly the most talented midfielder in the world. However, due to unknown reasons, his career at Manchester United never took flight. The United academy start left for free in 2012, only to rejoin them as the then costliest player of all time in 2016.
He has not been able to deliver consistently at Manchester United, making him subject to multiple transfer rumours for the past couple of years. As a result of which, this season can be expected to be his last. Pogba is currently in the extended year of his contract, and unless a new deal is struck, the chances of which is slowly fading, he will be available for free next summer.
If that happens, Barcelona will have the perfect option to solve their midfield woes. However, they will also have competitions from Real Madrid and Juventus who are similarly interested in him.
Jules Kounde
Jules Kounde is considered the most expensive out of the shortlisted players. The 22-year-old defender, who came through the French academies moved to Spain when he joined Sevilla in 2019. He has built a name for himself over the three years and is considered one of the hottest prospects across Europe.
He has all the attributes required to fit in a top club, because of which Xavi identifies him as a great fit for the club. However, this pursuit will be a little complicated when it comes to finances. Chelsea were close to signing him at the start of the season, however, the price tag set by Sevilla created problems. Priced at £80 million, it is considered too much for a defender.
Even if the Blaugranas were to prepare this humongous sum, they would have to fight off Chelsea who are planning to make a fresh bid, along with Real Madrid and Manchester United who have reportedly joined the race.
Dani Olmo
Homecomings are often sweet, and this particular player could be a huge blessing for Barcelona. He could turn out to be the missing piece to overturn the club’s goal drought. Dani Olmo trained most of his youth at the Masia, before moving to Croatia to begin his professional career. He joined RB Leipzig in 2020 from Dinamo Zagreb. Since that move, he has turned out to be a world-class player.
He has become an important member of the Spanish squad and was their best player during the Euro 2020 tournament. His development has attracted a lot of clubs, out of which his former club is also included. He can be attained by the club as early as the January transfer window if they are willing to pay their price tag of £51 million.
However, the current situation is unlikely to let them take that approach, because of which Barcelona will be negotiating to land a loan spell with an option to buy later, as it would reduce his asking price given he will be entering the final year of his contract at Leipzig.
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