Tito Vilanova must be happy with Barcelona's overall performance this season - winning La Liga title and reaching the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League - but he is expected to bring in some new players and send off a few of the current players this summer.
Barcelona's humiliating defeats to Bayern Munich in both the legs of the Champions League semi-finals exposed the loopholes in the team that have many star players. The team management seems to have realized that their weak bench strength cost them dear towards the end of the season with the absence of Lionel Messi and Carles Puyol affecting the end result.
It is reported that the Blaugrana are eager to strengthen the defense and attack by hiring some big names. They have signed Brazilian sensation Neymar at €57 million to assist Lionel Messi in the attack. News has it that they were eyeing players like Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku, Lazio's Miroslav Klose, Bayern Munich's Mario Gomez, Roma's Pablo Daniel Osvaldo, Brazil's Leandro Damiao and Manchester United's Chicharito.
They will not face attacking crisis if they rope in some strikers who are ready for second fiddle role to Messi and Neymar.
In the defense, ageing Puyol is a concern and his absence towards the end of this season due to injury was felt. It is reported that they are targeting Brazil defender Thiago Silva though he has expressed his plan to stay at Paris Saint-Germain. Players like Chelsea's David Luiz, Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels, Valencia's Adil Rami and Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic are said to have caught the attention of the Catalans.
There were rumours that goalkeeper Victor Valdes would leave Barcelona and Liverpool's Pepe Reina might take his place but is not going to happen with the former confirming that he will be with the club till next summer. Borussia Monchengladbach's Marc-Andre ter Stegen is also said to be one of the potential replacement for Valdes.
Meanwhile, some players have to leave Camp Nou with the arrival of some new players. David Villa is very likely to move out of Barcelona and several clubs including Arsenal, Tottenham and White Hart Lane. Cesc Fabregas has also been linked with several clubs but Catalans may not sell him off.
Players like Ibrahim Afellay, Bojan Krkic and Andreu Fontas are expected to be sold while Isaac Cuenca, who is currently recovering from an injury, is likely to be leave on loan along with Rafinha and Gerard Deulofeu. Marc Muniesa is likely to join Real Sociedad while Jonathan dos Santos is expected to be sold.
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