Ronald Koeman's time at Barcelona might have just begun but the newly-appointed boss has already identified the positions he is keen on strengthening ahead of next season. After the 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, rebuilding the squad was made necessary.
The Dutch tactician sat down with Ramon Planes, the new sporting director at the Camp Nou, to discuss transfers. In their meeting, the pair decided which positions need reinforcements. According to Mundo Deportivo, it has been determined five signing are needed: three defenders, a midfielder, and a new no.9 goalscorer.
Additionally, the club have identified the players they need to move on and top on their list is Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan has dominated the headlines for this exact reason, with many speculating his time at the Camp Nou is numbered. Koeman is said to have communicated this to the South American and will now look to find him a new club.
One option for Suarez is a return to Ajax. This would work perfectly for the Blaugrana as it could help them land their priority target: Donny van de Beek. However, it remains uncertain whether they can find a club that can afford his wages.
Elsewhere, Vidal and Rakitic have been informed that they are not part of Koeman's plans, which will come as little surprise. The future of Sergio Busquets, an aging but iconic servant of the club, has been under scrutiny given that the boss pledged to play Frenkie De Jong in his position. Despite this, the Spaniard looks set to remain in Catalonia but in a diminished role. The same is true for Sergi Roberto.
As for the three defenders, one will be a center-back while the other two are low-cost fullbacks. Umtiti could be moved on after another injury-prone season. Alba will stay on board but Koeman looks to bring in competition. The same is true for Semedo given that Junior Firpo could be sold.
