With Busquets set to leave this summer, Xavi's side are in need of a new midfielder. Here are the candidates to replace the Spanish icon.

With Sergio Busquets set to leave Barcelona this summer, the age-old question will finally have to be answered: how do you replace the Spanish icon?

Busquets announced that this will be his final season in a Blaugrana jersey, meaning the Spanish champions will have to enter the market to sign a new pivot player. While there isn't currently a player out there than can replace Sergio, a successor is needed nonetheless, meaning the Blaugrana will have to invest in their midfield.

With that in mind, well-known reporter Gerard Romero has revealed the names on Barcelona's radar. According to him, seven players in total have been shortlisted, with Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi being the no.1 target.

The Spaniard is appreciated by everyone at the Camp Nou but the midfielder has a hefty release clause, worth just over $64M, which the Catalan giants would have to trigger. Given their financial situation, this might be difficult, and with the Sociedad ace being admired by Premier League clubs as well, it could be a difficult pursuit.

Guido Rodriguez is also on the radar but while the Argentine has the seal of approval from Xavi, the Barcelona board hold doubts over the Real Betis man. Wolves ace Ruben Neves, on the other hand, is Joan Laporta's favorite candidate, and with the Portuguese midfielder tipped to leave the Premier League side this summer, this deal could become plausible.

Sofyan Amrabat, who was pursued in January, is a target but he is not high up Barcelona's list anymore and the Liga champions will only bid for the Moroccan star if they miss out on their other targets. The Fiorentina player, however, is keen on a Camp Nou move. Girona's Oriol Romeu, Belgian teenager Arthur Vermeeren, and Chelsea veteran N'Golo Kante wrap up this seven-man shortlist.