Barcelona get frantic

18/08/2017

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Barcelona target Coutinho

The shock story of the summer is the transfer of Neymar to PSG, but the reason it has filled backpages across the globe isn't only because of the 222 million euro fee. It is that Barcelona, giants of world football, did not want to lose him. There are few examples in recent history of one of Europe's giants selling a player they did not want to sell. Now the Catalans are left with a gaping hole in their squad, a widely unpopular president, and a pile of cash. With an election looming, it's obvious that Bartomeu will need to acquire some talent for a squad that was just resoundingly beaten by arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Blind swing

There are some obvious targets Barcelona might go after to try and appease their fans. Brazilian midfielder and ex-Tottenham misfit Paulinho probably isn't one of them. Signed for a ridiculous £36 million, this transfer has left many fans flabbergasted. That is not to say Paulinho is without talent. He was arguably the best player in the Chinese league last season and helped his side, Guangzhou Evergrande to the title. However, it is a markedly different task to play for one of the best sides in the world, in one of the strongest leagues. At 29 years-old, and with an underwhelming stint at Tottenham to his name, how can the Brazilian be expected to make the step up now?

An impasse elsewhere

Even more troubling for Barcelona fans, their two major targets may end up staying put. Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele have both made it clear to their clubs they want to move. Coutinho has submitted an official transfer request and Dembele has essentially gone on strike to try to force the hand of management. Neither tactic appears to have paid off for the players so far. Jurgen Klopp has insisted that he will try to keep Coutinho at Anfield and Borussia Dortmund have suspended Dembele "indefinitely".

Systemic problems

One of the major problems for Barcelona going forward is that their famed La Masia system isn't working. Too often, in recent years, this board has blocked the pipeline from the academy to the first team. The most significant and painful loss was that of Thiago, Xavi's natural heir. A player who should have been Barcelona's midfield general for a decade is instead, plying his trade elsewhere, frustrated with a lack of opportunities and a lack of recognition. Recent rumours that Sergi Roberto is upset with being sidelined is another indication all is not well.

A turnover in managers since Pep Guardiola's side has not helped matters. Luis Enrique in particular was criticised for his lack of faith in La Masia graduates, preferring to buy talent rather than nurture the players in front of him. However, this issue has been compounded with a change in philosophy at the academy that favours winning – often youth teams are made up of players who are too old for their developmental category.

Even if Barcelona are able to acquire both Dembele and Coutinho, there is an issue at the heart of the club that will not be solved by simply spending more money. How will these issues resolve themselves? We will have to wait and see.



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