Barcelona are expected to have another busy summer transfer window. Before the signings can even be considered, they need to sell – and fast, with the deadline to return to La Liga's 1-1 rule ending on June 30.
The likes of Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong have been linked with possible departures, but one of the areas expected to be most affected by this is the defence. The likes of Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen have all been noted as possible leavers, and the last to add to this list is Inigo Martinezwho has struggled for playing time in recent weeks due to Pau Cubarsi's emergency.
Also, with Eric Garcia set to return from his loan at Girona, and Chadi Riad having been signed from Real Betis, Barcelona will have a significant surplus of centre-backs. So what should they do about it?
First, it is clear that Araujo and Cubarsi should be untouchable. Both players are seen as current and future stalwarts of Barcelona, and by playing together consistently in the coming years, they can develop into one of the best defensive partnerships in the world.
As for the remaining players, chances are that Riad will stay, as he impressed at Betis, and Barcelona will pay a lot of money to bring him back. He is only 20 years old, and he can be a good player for the Catalan giants for many years to come. On Garcia, he is unlikely to be a long-term player for the club, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he was sold, or at least loaned out again.
The big dilemma facing Barcelona involves Christensen and Kounde. Both players will likely command high fees, so it's a matter of choosing which one is needed the least. Both have the advantage of being versatile (Christensen at DM, Kounde at RB), and when you consider this, it is more likely that the Dane is better kept, since the Blaugrana will not be able to sign a top-level pivot for the second they will be straight because of their money problems.
Kounde is probably the best player, but if you consider Barcelona's best defense (Cancelo-Araujo-Cubarsi-Balde), then it's likely not. Julian Araujo will return to the first team in the summer too, so there would be even less use for it.
Ultimately, much of this is hypothetical because it is not known who of Barcelona the next manager, and also who he perceives as marketable. Whoever comes will have a big job, alongside Deco, to decide.
