So, what can be done in the transfer market ? Probably not much in January. Should be an interesting summer. Lucas, Mendy and Vallejo’s contracts expire and should be let go. No point in renewing deadweight. Modric will also probably retire or at least leave when his contract expires next summer. Trent and Davies are the obvious choices for RB and LB, as their contracts expire in the summer. People say they suck at defending but Lucas and Mendy are hardly defensive juggernauts. Who knows how Carvajal will look like after he returns from injury. Hopefully the club is also looking at a CB and another midfielder as well. CB is already pretty thin as it is and nobody knows Alaba’s condition.
I remember Carlo saying something about an extension but I don’t think it was ever officially announced ? Transfermarkt has his contract expiring this summer.
OUT-Mbappe,Tchoeameni,Lucas,Vallejo,Mendy,Fran,Ceballos,Rodrygo,Modric IN-Haaland,Miguel Gutierez,Trent,Nico Paz,some tecnhicaly gifted midfielder
I fear that the imbalance in the squad, that we have won't be solved easily. We need to be very careful with who we buy for the full back roles because we are still going to have Vinnie, Mbappe, Jude and probably Rodrygo in the coming years. It will be hard task for any coach. Maybe in 2024 we shouldn't have signed Mbappe after all. We needed desperately from 2018 till 2022 but apparently not anymore.
It's always a pleasant surprise when Lord Vasquez does well but he's a converted winger. I have no idea how soon the club can get get an RB in the Carvajal tier but that would be great.
I think RB is clearly our most urgent need. Followed by an actual striker but that’s not something we will see movement on. RB is an immediate need.
You have a winning team with amazing chemistry and then decide to fit a round peg in a square hole, why can't we build on winning teams instead scuttle whatever progress we make. Don't replace Kroos which was the most urgent need, stick LV at RB. And the worst part, let an inexperienced Barca trounce us , this was the perfect time to put them in the abyss, yet they are playing as if this is prime Barca... Strange how we can never dominate La Liga for a stretch of time.
We're not going to put some of the best players in the sport in the OUT category, let's just stop being idiots for a minute no matter how hard this may seem for some.
So called best players are best on paper, not in form. Nobody asked for such drastic changes as the OG post. But clearly this system is not working, especially the defense is completely disjointed. Good defense wins titles, its a no brainer, we are lacking a quality RB and depth in CB at the moment and that needs to be addressed.
We said it DURING the summer that it's dangerous to goo into the season with this roster. Of course the holes are kind of showing.
If we sign another regular starting midfielder, obvious follow up is Tcho or Camavinga getting sold. Not enough starting spots to please everyone. Wirtz rumours were there, but he's an AM like Jude than Kroos/Modric tempo setter.
I don't mind Mendy in Coentrao 2011-14 type role. Was a reliable defensive stopper for Mou in 2011-12 Clasico win, for Carlo in both Bayern games, CDR final in 2014 etc. Mendy brought in the defensive reliability on his flank when we faced City, Bayern etc last season. Fran sadly hasn't shown any improvement from last season and is the kind of player that you play vs Espanyol, Alaves etc at home. Offensive profile, but nothing special technically. Davies is far far superior offensively and Miguel Gutierrez is very solid technically as well. I see club moving on from Fran than Mendy for one of those two.
Tcho is in his 3rd year here and still not cemented his place as an undisputed starter, we might as well move away from him.
Kroos is irreplaceable, hut you can see it even now where people are afraid to criticize Vini, Fede and others who have performed well in the past. The idea is not that these guys forgot how to play, but for one reason or another, are simply not performing right now. Vinicius dominated Araujo but gets shut down by a Barca academy prospect. That's just not good enough. Some players are simply around but not tone changing, Ceballos and Fran are doing their best when called but by now don't have the drive to do more.
Honestly the same Barca also demolished Bayern just few days ago. Inexperienced or not, they are on hot red form. I, personally, doubt if they can go on the whole season like this.
Also, I don’t see Jude becoming a tempo setter, he’s become far too much of an industrious ball carrying midfielder, to become that type of player. I know Kroos and Modric were able to player in a deeper role role as they matured in their careers, but Bellingham is a physical specimen, and perhaps that’s where Wirtz could come into play (if he was willing to adapt).
Beside of Rudiger, we need new defense: Militao, Lucas. And Mendy should all leave this summer. Tchuameni maybe as well.
I'd give Mendy another year but he needs to actually compete for his job. Fran has quietly had a better season than him.