Barcelona could let go of two of their experienced players in Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic, with both midfielders linked with a move to Italian club Inter Milan.
Vidal and Rakitic are on the wrong side of 30 and have been deemed surplus to requirements due to the addition of new midfielders over the last few transfer windows.
Transfer Market Web have claimed that both Vidal and Rakitic are on Inter’s shortlist, and that they could make a move for one of the two players in the January transfer window.
Vidal, who moved to the Catalan side in 2018 from Bayern Munich, has made 61 appearances in all competitions, scoring five times and making eight assists. The Chilean has been a bit-part player for Barcelona since his move to Spain.
Ivan Rakitic, for several seasons, was one of the key members of the Barcelona team, but has now been brushed aside by manager Ernesto Valverde.
The Croatian midfielder has made over 275 appearances for the club, scoring 34 and making 37 goals, as well as winning four league titles and one Champions League title. The 31-year-old, though, has mostly been a substitute this season.
What should the club’s play be here?
Barcelona have made two signings in central midfield over the last two transfer windows, with Arthur signed from Gremio last summer, and 22-year-old Frenkie de Jong signed from Ajax this season.
The duo, along with experienced Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, have been Valverde’s first-choice in the central midfield area this season.
This has left both Vidal and Rakitic on the bench for most games, with both of them starting just one game and making five substitute appearances in the league this season. Barcelona should let go of both these players in the January transfer window as neither are good enough to start for the club week in, week out.
De Jong and Arthur are two players with a lot of promise and they should be the present and future of the Barca midfield. The Catalans also have Sergi Roberto, who can be a useful squad player, while young Carles Alena is another player with potential.
Barcelona, though, should sign a long-term replacement for Busquets, who recently turned 31, and maybe on the decline. They could perhaps use the money from the sale of Vidal and Rakitic to sign a defensive midfielder to eventually replace Busquets in the team.