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Goal.com Summer Shopping: Who Should Barcelona Buy?

Barcelona are keen to prevent complacency and build on an historic season, so Goal.com has considered which players Pep Guardiola should buy or sell in order to have another trophy-laden campaign...

Jun 8, 2009 6:40:15 PM

Captain fantastic as Carles Puyol completes Barcelona's treble trophy haul by lifting the 2009 Champions League

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Captain fantastic as Carles Puyol completes Barcelona's treble trophy haul by lifting the 2009 Champions League

Teams

Barcelona

Valdes

Alves     Puyol     Pique     Abidal

Toure

Xavi     Iniesta

Messi     Villa     Ribery

Subs: Pinto, Oier, Pique, Marquez, Victor Sanchez, Henrique, Filipe, Victor Vazquez, Keita, Xavi Torres, Busquets, Fabregas, Pedro, Henry.

IN (5)

Filipe (Deportivo) - With Sylvinho having been released, the purchase of a new left-back is vital as an injury to Eric Abidal could see the situation of Carles Puyol having to play on that side repeated again next term. The Brazilian has shown with the Galicians that he is solid in defence and is adept at pushing forward and supplying the forwards when required. Depor want €15 million, Barca want to pay €5m, but a plan of loanees looks likely to produce results.

Henrique (Bayer Leverkusen) - The plan is for the Brazilian youngster to rejoin Barcelona for the pre-season and when the coaching staff have given him the once over, a decision on whether he stays or goes will be made. The 22-year-old signed last summer from Palmeiras, was immediately shipped out on loan to the Bundesliga outfit for the season and after making 27 appearances in the first-team will look to impress at Camp Nou in the summer.

Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich) - Price and the player's desire plays a major role in a move for the French winger as Real Madrid are also interested. With so many compatriots at Camp Nou, it appears likely a move would be on, but so much could depend on whether Samuel Eto'o stays. If the Cameroonian goes a new striker will be needed and Barca's finances will be dented. Ribery would give an incredible edge to what is already the best forward line in world football.

Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal) - Technical secretary Txiki Begiristain has said that he would not instigate a move for a player that voluntarily left Barca, but it appears Cesc has now opened the door by admitting he wants to return. He could play instead of Xavi or alongside him as Guardiola implements his strict rotations next season and then would then allow Iniesta to either rest or play among the front three where he has been so effective.

David Villa (Valencia) - Any move for the Asturian goalscorer will depend on Eto'o, but he appears to be the most likely candidate given his desire and work-rate. Whoever is to replace Eto'o would have to work as hard for the team as the Cameroonian and only Villa fits the bill out all the names being put forward. Again desire and price would play a major role given the number of clubs interested, but Barca may have an edge as their style would suit Villa.

OUT (10)

Samuel Eto'o - Guardiola was unsure about the striker last summer, but was won over by his attitude and commitment and that proved to be vital to what was a great season for both club and player. But with the riches that Eto'o wants on offer elsewhere and with his contract due to expire next summer, the player could do himself and Barca a favour by moving this year and earning himself and the club the financial rewards that both are looking for.

Aliaksandr Hleb - His inability to settle in the Catalan capital and his failure to pick up the Spanish or Catalan language has meant it has been an unhappy first year at Camp Nou for the Belarus midfielder. While a second season may produce results, the club recognise that they may have made a mistake and even though Guardiola remains a fan, even he knows that allowing Hleb to go and play regularly is the only fair thing to do at the moment.

Eidur Gudjohnsen - A move does look on the cards due to the lack of playing time he was given at the crunch point of the season when the run-in began. The Icelandic international has stated he would be prepared to stay, even if it meant him being part of the rotation system because he enjoys living in the city and his sons are in the Barca academy. But professional pride could win the day and he could be attracted by the promise of regular first team football .

Sylvinho - Has already been told that his contract will not be renewed and it must have been a difficult decision all round. A hugely popular player within the club, the former Arsenal and Celta full-back was seen as the father figure in the dressing room and the morale guide given his strong religious beliefs. An impressive performance in the Champions League final showed he still has plenty to offer and Espanyol are ready to make an approach.

Gabriel Milito - A great player in his prime, but a problem with one knee that had to be solved by operating and taking parts of the other have seen him sidelined for over a year and keeping him at such a high profile and demanding club could constitute a risk. That may seem harsh, but with Gerard Pique, Rafa Marquez and Puyol all experienced defenders and players such as Henrique and Caceres still about they could let him leave and join a new club.

Albert Jorquera - Having been at Barcelona throughout his career, the 30-year-old is either stuck in a rut, too comfortable to move or lacks ambition as he must realise by now that he is only ever going to play a bit-part role behind Victor Valdes. A number of clubs have already stated that they are interested and if he had anything about him then he would take one of them up on their offer to give him regular playing time at the highest level.

Martín Cáceres (loan) - The young Uruguayan was snapped up somewhat surprisingly last summer from Villarreal after he had impressed in a Recreativo side that battled against the drop. He was not trusted too often by Guardiola, who evidently felt that he has a lot more to learn after being exposed during one or more first team appearances. A loan move could be the answer, but only if the other club is in Spain and would play him regularly.

Bojan Krkic (loan) - Frustrated at not being given the same amount of chances that he enjoyed the previous season under Frank Rijkaard, the young striker would be better off going to a team where he would play every week and learn the ropes. Has been spoilt by Barca's success this term and while his argument that he will learn more by staying alongside Lionel Messi and company holds some water, he should be told that he needs to play and leave Camp Nou for a year.

Alberto Botia (loan) - A player that Guardiola is tipped to put a lot of faith in, the 20-year-old defender could be one reason why Henrique's stay could be short-lived. Moving between the first-team and Barca Atletic has served some players well, but a season out on loan could give the young left-footed starlet a chance to play regularly in la Primera and return to Camp Nou stronger and more experienced.

Marc Muniesa (loan) - Like Botia, the defender also looks set to play more and more for Barcelona and a loan stint could be vital. He by-passed the B team at 17-years-old and was given his first-team debut towards the end of the season after being promoted directly from the club's junior ranks. The red card that he was shown against Osasuna gave him a taste, albeit a bitter-sweet one, of what playing for the Blaugrana will be like.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

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