Barcelona, the La Liga giants, had a disappointing season in the Spanish league as well as Champions League as Real Madrid won both silverwares. Luis Enrique stepped downs as the Catalan giants manager and former Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde has been appointed in order for bring back Barca’s lost glory.
Barcelona, however, still need to bring in new signings and must rebuild their back-line that has troubled them on different occasions in recent past. We have researched three such players who might bring back their league glory as well as there Champions League supremacy.
Aymeric Laporte
Laporte has grown to be one of the highly rated La Liga stars who has flourished to become a top-notch center-back under Ernesto Valverde during his time as Athletic Bilbao manager. The 23-year-Old has been a regular since past four seasons and extended his contract last year that runs until 2020, seeing his buyout clause rising to €65 million.
The Frenchman has represented France in several youth ranks but yet to be capped for their senior side. He is aerially strong and hailed for his superb marking, tackling and intercepting skills. He has previously been monitored by top European outfits, but Bilbao, being known as a tough negotiator, manage to hold on to him. However, the new Barca boss influence might convince him and his current employers to join Barcelona this summer.
Marco Verratti
Verratti has been subject of intense transfer speculation with Barcelona in recent times. The 24-year-Old Italian is known for his dribbling abilities, close ball control and playmaking traits from the middle of the park. Verratti is quick, agile and credited for his passing and intercepting attributes.
The €35 million with €20 million add-one transfer of Portuguese playmaker Andre Gomes went wrong with Barcelona last summer as the former Valencia man struggled to get use to life at Nou Camp and failed to impress. Verratti, on the other hand, is already a well-established and player in European circuit and probably a risk worth taking.
Cesar Azpilicueta
The Spaniard has reignite his contentment with Premier League champions Chelsea, however, the versatile defender might still be willing to make a switch to his homeland for the upcoming season.
Azpilicueta, an Osasuna academy star, joined Chelsea back in August 2012 for a £7 million move from French side Marseille. Although mainly utilized in the right-back, the Spaniard has been used in the center-back, left-back, also as a wing-back and adopted in several formations that made him a regular starter for the West London club.
He has won the league twice and holds enough experience of European football. The 27-year-Old has represented his country in several youth ranks before breaking into the senior side four years back. Azpilicueta without much ado, will walk straight into Barca’s team and improve their defensive vulnerability and would also serve as an upgrade on both the fullbacks, particularly Jordi Alba, who had a rough season in his usual left-back position.