Barcelona head into pre-season carrying real concern over Frenkie de Jong, whose serious knee injury could keep him sidelined for up to six months. The club is furious with Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman and the Oranje medical staff, feeling they were misled about the midfielder's condition during the World Cup. Losing De Jong for a significant stretch of the season is a serious setback, and it adds urgency to Barcelona's business in the transfer market.

On that front, the picture is mixed. Karim Adeyemi arrived from Borussia Dortmund for around €29 million after completing his medical, while Anthony Gordon joined from Newcastle in a major outlay. Barcelona also explored a move for Mason Greenwood before the forward chose Fenerbahce. Aymeric Laporte, outstanding for Spain throughout their World Cup-winning campaign, is now a target as the club looks for defensive cover at a reasonable cost. Laporte's partnership with Pau Cubarsi during the tournament caught the eye, and signing him would address a clear positional need.

The outgoings column, though, brings its own complications. Ferran Torres is reportedly outraged by Barcelona's contract renewal offer and is ready to accept a proposal from PSG. His likely departure would thin the attacking options at Hansi Flick's disposal, particularly given De Jong's absence in midfield. Barcelona finished LaLiga as champions with 94 points, eight clear of Real Madrid, and a friendly against CE Europa is next up as pre-season gets underway.