Barcelona are prepared to compete during "an intense summer."
Economic vice-president Susana Monje, via the Daily Mail's Kieran Gill,
told Spanish outlet Movistar+ her club are keeping their plans concealed and "can't make public things [they] are working on," but the tenor of her quotes makes for supremely interesting reading, that Barcelona do not appear content as presently constituted.
It is a scary thought, especially considering the current La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League holders are already understood as Europe's best club. The report suggests "Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Juventus superstar Paul Pogba" are potential targets for the Catalan giants—either or both would tilt the balance of European football further in Barca's already lopsided direction.
Since their 2015 transfer ban, Luis Enrique's side have a net spend of £11 million. Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal's arrivals were cushioned by the sales of Adama Traore and Pedro. It means—given their brand, sponsorships, prize winnings and televisions earnings—UEFA's financial fair play cannot restrict a massive Barcelona spending spree.
Barca have the monetary wherewithal to capture any target and the footballing stature to entice any world-class name (generally barring those at Real Madrid) into exchanging whatever colours for red, yellow and blue.
The notion of placing Pogba and/or Gundogan behind Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi is almost unfair. It is how football works, but if the thought is frightening, the application would be jarring.
An argument exists that Barcelona would be hard-pressed to find areas of improvement, but there are potential weaknesses at centre-back, full-back and central midfield as Andres Iniesta ages; Enrique's goalkeeping situation cannot be described as world class, but the possession-oriented and ostentatious attacking talent he boasts makes up for defensive frailties.
One thinks about La Masia in times like these.
Barca's "farmhouse" has been relatively barren of late. Talents like Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Carles Puyol, Pedro and plenty of others have either left, are finishing their careers or retired. Falling into the modern system of buying more than developing, it seems an interesting development at the Camp Nou.
Sergi Roberto looks the next solid talent to come from the venerable academy, but is he on the level of the world-class, superstar names from 10 to 15 years prior? Not really is the unfortunate answer in that regard.
Perhaps that's the largest problem. Once a club begins to outsource proven, established talent, the primary avenue to improving on those footballers is buying more proven, established talent.
If defenders are what Barcelona need in the upcoming window—despite the links with Pogba and Gundogan—they are more likely to search outside than inside. It is a shame, but shows if Barcelona are slowing down on playing youngsters, little hope remains for other massive footballing brands across Europe.
For the 2015/16 La Liga favourites to improve their squad this summer, the first thing is finding players who should leave and allow them to find greener pastures. Next is securing a top centre-back and full-back, then moving on to the more high-profile midfielders, wingers and forwards.
Barcelona have the money, means and motivation to tighten their grip on European football's neck.
If you are a Barcelonista, it is a wonderful time; everyone else needs to draw their blueprints—and quickly, lest this situation (that being Spanish and Champions League football) gets out of hand.
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