Barcelona's summer is being defined by a frantic push to reshape the squad before the new LaLiga season begins, with the pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri at the centre of everything. President Joan Laporta has set a 48-hour deadline to finalise a deal worth close to €80 million, according to reports, after two bids were rejected by City. Rodri himself has made his desire to return to Spain clear, even requesting permission to skip training at the Etihad as the negotiations reached a critical stage. Whether Barcelona can meet City's valuation remains the defining question of their window.

The urgency in midfield is matched by a genuine problem up front. Robert Lewandowski has left the club, and Ferran Torres has joined PSG in a deal worth around €50 million. With no senior striker signed, Hansi Flick has been experimenting in pre-season, including deploying Lamine Yamal in a central role. The 19-year-old, fresh from winning the World Cup with Spain, returned to training after a well-earned break, but using him as a makeshift centre-forward underlines how thin the options currently are.

Defensively, there is further uncertainty. Arsenal have made an approach for Jules Kounde, and Barcelona have responded by sounding out Tottenham right-back Pedro Porro as a potential replacement. The squad also absorbed a blow when forward Roony Bardghji suffered a second ACL tear in training, ending any prospect of a summer exit and keeping him sidelined. Barcelona do not feature in LaLiga's opening matchday this weekend, with their first league game scheduled for late August, giving Flick a few more days to find the reinforcements his title defence will demand.