Barcelona are navigating a turbulent start to their pre-season, with a serious injury to Frenkie de Jong casting a shadow over the squad ahead of the new LaLiga campaign. The Dutch midfielder has been diagnosed with a medial collateral ligament tear in his right knee, a blow made more painful by the revelation that he played through the injury during Spain's World Cup triumph. His absence leaves Hansi Flick short of options in central midfield at a critical moment in squad-building.

On the transfer front, the picture is mixed. Karim Adeyemi has arrived from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth a reported €29 million, signing a five-year contract and providing attacking cover after Robert Lewandowski's departure and the end of Marcus Rashford's loan. The German winger has already spoken about his Champions League ambitions and offered a measured take on playing alongside Lamine Yamal. Anthony Gordon also joined earlier in the summer, giving Flick two new attacking options to work with.

The more pressing concern is Ferran Torres. Barcelona have set a deadline for the World Cup winner to make a final decision on his future, with PSG holding a concrete offer on the table. Torres is reported to be unhappy with both the financial terms of Barcelona's renewal offer and his expected role in the squad, making a departure increasingly likely. The club is also monitoring Aymeric Laporte as a potential defensive addition following his strong World Cup performances alongside Pau Cubarsi. Barcelona beat CE Europa 4-1 in their most recent friendly, with a game against Birmingham City to come on July 31.