FC Barcelona are looking to strengthen several positions going into the next transfer window, but the area that needs strengthening the most at this point in time is that of the midfield pivot.
This was one of the most prominent weaknesses for the Catalan team this season, and as Oriol Romeu is expected to leave the club this summer, this position is going to get further weakened.
As SPORT has reported, there are several candidates that Barcelona are considering for this position, but there are factors that make the pursuit of each of these players problematic for the Catalans.
For instance, one of the options that emerged for the Blaugranes in the last few weeks was that of Dion Lopy, the Almeria midfielder who was believed to be one of the cheaper options available. However, his good performances have significantly increased his price.
Barcelona were thinking of getting him for around €10 million, but there have already been offers of around €20 made for him. Thus, he is no longer an interesting option for the Catalans club.
Another player who has been closely linked with the blue and garnet club is the Girona captain, Aleix Garcia. However, he is also losing candidacy at Barcelona, but not because of any shortcomings in his game, but mainly because Barcelona are looking for a more physical midfielder or a destroyer, a profile to which Garcia does not really fit. This is also the case with Mats Wieffer.
Amadou Onana still remains a highly popular option for Deco, but Barcelona will have to pay up to €60 million for him, which makes a move for him complicated to begin with. Khephren Thuram is considered to be below Onana in terms of potential and is also not seen as a natural midfield pivot by the Catalans.
Meanwhile, Martin Zubimendi remains Xavi’s favorite to reinforce this position, but he is also going to cost the same as Onana. Thus, Barcelona will have to keep working in the market to strengthen this core area, and will likely have to spend a significant amount for this purpose.
