Barcelona have a formidable starting XI, perhaps the best in world football. But a gruelling 2015-16 betrayed the lack of quality in depth, with only Rafinha and Sergi Roberto providing quality options off the bench despite the double success.
Having been frozen out of last summer's window and making only two acquisitions in January, Barca will attempt to make up for lost time in the upcoming period. But with only around €60 million available to spend and Javier Mascherano possibly joining the defensive exodus, the Catalans will have to be intelligent in the market.
CONFIRMED DEALS
Villarreal star Denis Suarez will be returning to Camp Nou as Barca make use of their buyback option on the talented midfielder. Suarez will add further depth in the middle of the pitch behind regular starters Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic, and with Arda Turan joining Roberto and Rafinha there is no lack of quality at Luis Enrique's disposal.
Another youngster set to come back to Barcelona is Alen Halilovic, but the Croat is expected to make just a fleeting appearance around the club before moving on again, this time to Valencia.
**THE DEPARTURES
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It is in defence that Luis Enrique will see the biggest upheavals, with at least one of his stars already making his farewells. Dani Alves will move on to Juventus after eight years at Camp Nou, and his departure will leave a big hole on the right. He could yet be joined by Javier Mascherano in Serie A, although Barca will attempt to convince the Argentine to stay on.
Marc Bartra is heading to Borussia Dortmund, while Sandro Ramirez will be released by the club after failing to impress in his fleeting first-team performances.
THE ARRIVALS
With Alves gone, and after Aleix Vidal fell flat on the right following his move from Sevilla in January, Barcelona are in urgent need of a full-back. Arsenal's Hector Bellerin, a former student at La Masia, is the big bet for the club's management, but the Gunners' reluctance to sell and the fact the youngster is not itching for a move back to Camp Nou make the deal a tricky one.
Las Palmas' Mauricio Lemos has emerged as an affordable target to strengthen the centre of defence, with Marquinhos and Aymeric Laporte prohibitively expensive for a club which has prioritised the retention of stars such as Lionel Messi and Neymar with hefty contracts. Interest in Koke and Marco Verratti is similarly constrained by their clubs' valuations, while Nolito has fallen off the radar after being heavily linked with a move from Celta months ago.
**HOW THE TEAM WILL LOOK
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A stronger backline and adequate cover off the bench for the MSN are Luis Enrique's two big priorities for the close-season. Little can be done with the starting XI, which with the exception of Alves will continue to pick itself almost automatically; but more and better cover off the bench will be vital if the Blaugrana seek to repeat their treble heroics of 2015 and fight simultaneously on multiple fronts....
- Goal