Five tasks Barcelona director Deco still needs to complete this summer

Barcelona’s summer transfer window has not quite gone to plan. None of the management’s objectives are close to fruition and it is clear that there is still a long way to go.

Less than 15 days remain before the team takes to the field for the first game of the season. There has still been no tangible either on the departure or the arrival front.

With a new manager taking over and the club turning over a new leaf, there is an urgent need to provide Hansi Flick with the best possible team.

The team’s trophyless run last season only amps up the pressure on the management.

Barça Universal brings you five objectives the sporting director must look to complete this summer at the earliest.

Confirm new signings

Close to one month into the summer transfer market, Barcelona are yet to make the big signing they have dreamt of. Their only new arrival, in fact, has been Pau Victor who impressed with Barça Atletic last season.

Nico Williams and Dani Olmo have emerged as the club’s two biggest transfer targets for this summer, especially after their campaigns with La Roja in the Euro. Neither player, however, has confirmed a move to Catalonia.

Williams, the first-priority target, is having second doubts about leaving Athletic Club ahead of what could be a historic season. Barcelona, however, are reluctant to wait another year.

At this point, nothing is clear on Williams’s future but signs suggest that he is closer to staying than leaving. Needless to say, Barcelona will focus on Olmo only after they are clear of Williams’ stance.

Completing the ‘big signing’ operation, thus, is one of the biggest tasks on Deco’s hands.

Make a big sale

Barcelona’s pressing need to make big sales was the talk of the town heading into the new summer market. Almost unbelievably, however, most of the players Barcelona planned to place on the market find themselves with untimely injuries.

That, coupled with other strategic reasons, has halted the Cataans’ progress on the departure front. Now, sporting director Deco has frozen all exit operations until the end of the USA tour.

The Azulgranas now plan to facilitate departures only next week after having a clear idea of the player who will arrive.

Raphinha and the central defenders are some of the players who could still leave, albeit only based on whether or not the club manages to make progress on the arrivals front.

Resolve the ‘Joaos’ situation

Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix left a good impression on loan with Barcelona last season, the former more than the latter.

Both players, however, are no longer at the club after Joan Laporta and Co. revealed to Manchester City and Atletico Madrid that they would not pay the fee for a permanent transfer.

Given that both Portuguese stars are still considerably away from sealing departures from their respective clubs, Barcelona could well sign them back on loan. Once again, however, it will depend on the funds remaining after the big signings and sales.

Joan Laporta met with Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano ahead of the two teams’ clash earlier today and Cancelo’s future was one of the topics discussed. It remains to be seen if anything concrete arises from the talks.

The ‘pivotal’ decision

Barcelona have remained fixated on one single transfer target for close to a month. Unfortunately, they are now on the verge of missing out on that player as well, leaving them stranded.

The Blaugrana’s obsession with Nico Williams and single-minded focus on signing him is both a boon and a bane.

While it is indeed important to be fixated on what the club requires, Barcelona have failed to address another position in dire need of resources: the Pivot.

Operations for players like Mikel Merino, Joshua Kimmich and others were frozen in anticipation of Williams’ signing and their future is now no longer as open as it was a few weeks ago.

The decision, thus, is for Deco to take in the coming days. Should Barcelona focus on a new defensive midfielder or will the academy resources suffice? The answer must arrive soon.

Filtering the deadwood

The final task on the sporting director’s hands, before the transfer market ends, is to clear the extensive deadwood present in the squad.

The first department to be cleaned is the central defence where there is clearly an over-stock of resources. Players like Clement Lenglet and Eric Garcia, thus, could find themselves on their way out.

Concurrently, names including Vitor Roque, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, and Mikayil Faye among others will likely not have much of the spotlight under Hansi Flick and must be disposed of if truly out of contention.

The ongoing pre-season tour, undoubtedly, will be critical in deciding which player is classified as ‘deadwood.’ Their sales will be essential for the club’s financial health.