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Barcelona Name Five Man Shortlist For Summer Overhaul

Barcelona Name Five Man Shortlist For Summer Overhaul

Will they become a European force again?

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

It seems mad that everyone is writing the obituary of this current Barcelona team, it's only two years ago that they won the Champions League and they could yet retain their La Liga title. However they have reportedly named the five players they want to recover former glory.

Barcelona's long reign of success through the Frank Rijkaard, Pep Guardiola, Tito Vilanova, Gerardo Martino and Luis Enrique eras is pretty much unmatched in that time throughout Europe.

In that period from 2003 to the current season they have won eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and four Copa del Reys, as well as numerous other titles, and Enrique could yet add a league and cup double at the end of this season.

Enrique with his treble. PA Images

The former Barca midfielder will leave the job at the end of the season whatever happens and the team has a rebuilding job to do when he goes. After dropping out of the Champions League quarter finals it was obvious the Catalan side are missing something.

According to Mundo Deportivo the club have drawn up a shortlist of five players to be signed in the summer, even though they don't know who their new manager will be in for next season.

The Spanish paper say that Barca will try to bring Hector Bellerin, Theo Hernandez, Marco Verratti, Philippe Coutinho and Gerard Deulofeu are the players they hope to bring in this summer.

Hector Bellerin
Hector Bellerin

The former Barcelona youngster seems an obvious choice. PA Images

Dani Alves performance for Juventus last night aligned with Enrique's need to play Sergi Roberto in that role this season has shown how important it is that they bring a right back in this summer. Bellerin makes sense for all sorts of reasons but probably wouldn't come cheap.

Theo Hernandez is a very talented young left back with a 24 million euro release clause that Atletico Madrid are probably desperate for Barca to activate considering the other alternative is local rivals Real doing the same and taking the player.

Coutinho
Coutinho

Little doubt that Liverpool's finest is good enough for Barca. PA Images

Barca need more creativity and options in midfield and Verratti and Coutinho would provide that, although whether signing them both is advisable is another question considering the need to get Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all in the same side.

Deulofeu remains the most likely to make the move. Barca have a 12 million euro buy back clause on the Spanish winger and his perforances whilst on loan with AC Milan and a need for more options up front make him a show in for a return.

Who do you think Barca should buy?

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