The winter transfer window is upon us and there are some European superpowers who haven’t had the best of campaigns so far. This is the perfect opportunity for them to bolster their squads. Here are 3 teams which are in need of desperate recruitments.
Barcelona:
Being a Barcelona fan is the toughest thing right now in the footballing world. Leo Messi is unhappy and out of form. There isn’t a board. Main players are out with long-term injuries. It’s a huge mess at the club. The least the club can do are recruit players.
With Gerard Pique and Sergi Roberto out with long term injuries the Blaugrana should move for a defender. Also Ronald Koeman has recently said that Barca need someone upfront so a striker is also needed.
1. Dayot Upamecano: Undoubtedly the best young centre back in the world, Upamecano’s reputation has taken a meteoric rise after his brilliant defensive showings in the UCL last season. He was a key player of the Leipzig team which reached the Champions League semi final last season.
2. Lautaro Martinez: He was one of Barca’s top priorities in the summer but Barca failed to negotiate a deal with Inter for the young Argentine. He would be the ideal replacement for El Pistolero. He is a player who is not just a finisher but also a great passer. He has been one of the main players at Inter under Antonio Conte and has been equally impressive when playing for the Argentina National Team. Barca should really go all out to sign him.
Arsenal:
There was a time when every team in the world would shudder when they had to play against Arsenal. The tables have turned now and it is Arsenal who shudder at the thought of playing against big teams. This is mainly due to lackluster transfer business.
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1. Isco- 2 years back every team wanted Isco (even Barcelona). But somehow the Spanish playmaker has found himself on the bench mostly. He has got only 348 minutes this season which shows the limited faith Zidane has in him. With Arsenal struggling in the playmaking department , Isco should be the perfect player from them. He should be cheap as well. Anything around 25M would definitely interest Los Blancos.
2. Riqui Puig- If Arsenal are to look for more temporary options then Riqui Puig is definitely the go to man. With Ronald Koeman determined to not give Riqui Puig playing chances and with Puig also ready to not leave Barca permanently- Arsenal could strike a quality lone deal. Whenever Puig has played he has been a class apart. He will bring the exact spark which Arteta’s team have been missing.
Borrusia Dortmund:
It hasn’t been an exactly happy season for Dortmund as they sit 4th in the Bundesliga table. Their manager Lucien Favre has been sacked and they are still on the lookout for a new manager. Attack has never been Dortmund’s problem. It has always been the defence. Their defence has been really leaky and they have been thrashed by teams like Stuttgart.
1. A full back: Achraf Hakimi has left, Nico Schulz isn’t good, Piszczek and Schmelzer aren’t particularly young and Raphael Guerreiro is much better in an offensive role . Only Thomas Meunier is a proper full back which Dortmund have. So a left full back is one which Dortmund desperately need. Luke Shaw would be a budget buy so will be his understudy Brandon Williams. Both are quality players and will add extra teeth to the Dortmund squad.
2. A backup striker: Dortmund have probably the world’s 2nd best striker at the moment in Erling Haaland. But to be fare he isn’t superhuman and also needs a break. Yes there is the 16 year old sensation Moukoko but an experienced campaigner could help the young guns to fire more and also provide a solid backup.
With Ronald Koeman looking for a new centre forward and Antoine Griezmann and Leo Messi being other alternatives it well maybe time over for Martin Braithwaite at Barca. Dortmund would get him for around 10M which is really cheap. Barca will accept anything as they are in dire need of money. Braithwaite will add extra pace and flair to the already explosive Dortmund team and would be a perfect backup.