AuthorJeffEyesRimmer Quite amazingly it looks like the transfer saga of the summer is actually happening. It was confirmed this morning by Barcelona that Neymar has requested a transfer through to PSG. They have indicated that PSG would have to pay the whopping £198million buyout clause in Neymar’s contract to do it and in full. Let’s put aside the absurdity of all this and how completely out of touch football seems to be with the rest of the world and consider the potential reinvestment opportunities for Barcelona should they receive that massive influx of cash. Who would be suitable replacements for Neymar at Barcelona? Phillippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
The obvious choice off the bat is Coutinho who has been touted as the big money signing all summer to Barcelona. His 13 goals and 7 assists in the EPL last season show he is one of the top level players in the league on his day. Liverpool are adamant that they won’t sell for any price but would a now cashed up Barcelona change their minds. If say £100million were put on the table I would expect talks to at least begin. Liverpool could make easily too quality signings with that money, preferably a real striker and new centre back to sit next to Matip. In my book Coutinho is the most likely player from this list to go to Barcelona. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) Hazard has been chased by Barcelona’s big time rival Real Madrid over the past few summers without much success. It really would be a big slap in the face for Real for Hazard to suddenly turn up at the Nou Camp. Hazard would likely fit the mould quite well at Barcelona as well, he provides driving runs and assists, as his 16 goals and 5 assists show from last season, and would likely link up very well Messi and Suarez. However, I doubt very much that Chelsea would be prepared to sell their prized asset. Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund) An outsider this, Dembélé played brilliantly for Dortmund last season. He made 22 appearances in the Bundesliga and 9 appearances in the Champions League. Domestically he had 12 assists and chipped in with 6 goals, not a bad effort from the 20 year old. This is a player that Barcelona could easily pick up along with another on this list to help future proof a side sorely lacking in some youth. Antoine Griezmann Was courted by Manchester United early in the summer and this is my outside shot. Real were interested in Griezmann too but he does seem to value the fans opinion. He stated earlier this year it would feel wrong to leave after Atletico were given a transfer ban. Consequently the transfer rumour circus as quieted somewhat around the player. Would he change his mind though if the destination was Barcelona rather than Madrid? It would only somewhat be more palatable to the Atletico fans. Kylian Mbappe (Monaco) Another player that has been linked with a move to Real, Mbappe is certainly one of the most sought after players in Europe right now. With the big paycheque that will come in from the Neymar deal Barcelona can easily compete for his signature. His 15 goals in France last season has certainly made him hot property. However, the fact that Monaco have already sold a fair number of players this close season already I can’t see him going this time around. We might actually see a little bit of a big player transfer merry-go-round here. With Barcelona suddenly being flush with cash and likely to spend it the next team receiving a cash windfall will have more purchasing power in the market. I wouldn’t be surprised to see all these players change teams with the way the football world is going at the moment. Who do you think are some of the other players Barcelona might be in for with the imminent departure of Neymar? |
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