There are worried faces around the Camp Nou at the moment as owners, directors, and players contemplate the future at this great club.
A poor run of results at the end of the La Liga season left the Blaugrana drifting in second place and handing the title back to Real Madrid without a fight.
Money is tight in football due to the financial fallout of COVID-19, and Barca fans may have to prepare for a difficult transfer window.
Can the Catalans keep hold of their prize asset in Lionel Messi?
The Argentine superstar has been vocally unhappy with events and results at the Camp Nou and has been linked with a shock move to Inter Milan, who are rumoured to be preparing to tempt Messi with a megabucks deal worth 260-M Euros over four years.
Barca president Josep Bartomeu has moved to calm fears insisting his captain will stay at the club where he has been since he was 13 until the end of his career.
Bartomeu will do all he can to keep Messi happy after a few weeks of on-field and off-field disagreements. The La Liga 2020 betting odds here at SBOBET backed Barca to retain their title and the Argentine genius fully expected to win the league, so he is not amused.
While Barcelona try to stop their best player leaving through the exit door, they are also struggling to bring new blood into the club.
The Catalans have been rumoured to be preparing a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez after the Argentine has impressed at the San Siro, scoring 18 goals in 39 games. He’s currently refusing to extend his contract in Milan and has a release clause of £98.5-M.
Martinez has been Barca’s top target, but they were also working on a deal to bring Neymar back to the Camp Nou in a part-exchange deal which would see French striker Antoine Griezmann head to Paris Saint-Germain.
Both deals have stalled while Barca’s money men bash their calculators, and it could be a frustrating few weeks. However, one arrival has produced some optimism.
Portuguese winger Francisco Trincao has arrived at the club after a deal was struck earlier in the year. The 20-year-old made 40 appearances for Braga, scoring nine goals and making 13 assists and he is one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
Barca moved quickly to get their man and it seems they have plans for him in the coming season.
Premier League club Leicester City were reported to be interested in a loan move for Trincao with an option to buy, but Bartomeu insists the winger will stay at the club well into his five-year contract.
Will Gareth Bale out this time?
We were waving goodbye to Gareth Bale this time last year in the expectation he was on the way to China, but he stayed and played something of a part in Los Blancos triumphant league campaign.
But the Welsh winger is still in the La Liga 2020 news for all the wrong reasons. He has been left out of Real Madrid’s squad in the big Champions League game against Manchester City and that will start the rumour mill whirring again.
“I need to be playing week in, week out, and that’s not happened this season. I had an injury, five, six weeks into the season but I’ve been fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it,” said Bale.
The 31-year-old probably has one more move in him. And if he secures a deal, I doubt there will be many tears among Los Blancos fans.
Villarreal and Valencia making moves
Meanwhile, it looks likely that Real Madrid wonder kid Takefusa Kubo is on his way out on another loan deal, having impressed at Real Mallorca despite the club’s relegation. It seems Kubo is heading for Villarreal.
The Yellow Submarine has qualified for the Europa League and new manager Unai Emery has said he’s looking for silverware in his first season at the club.
Los Blancos rate the youngster highly and will be happy to entrust his development to Emery, who is looking to replace the departed Santo Cazorla after the creative midfielder’s departure.
And Emery is hoping to tempt Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi to join him at Villarreal having coached him at the Emirates.
Guendouzi has blown hot and cold this season as Arsenal struggled to qualify for Europe, though their FA Cup win may persuade him to stay.
One player has headed the other way as Valencia winger Ferran Torres confirmed his move to Premier League heavyweights Manchester City in a deal worth 23-M Euros.
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