Catalan giants FC Barcelona are planning for a major summer rebuild to overhaul and improve the quality of the squad. Adding competition to the left-back position is among those intentions and Borussia Dortmund have now offered Portuguese full-back Raphael Guerreiro to the club.
At this point, it is no secret that FC Barcelona are planning for an extensive summer rebuild to take the club back to the prestige and European royalty it belongs to. The board led by Joan Laporta, in his second term as president of Barcelona, has had to deal with several financial complications with the club being riddled with an inexplicably massive debt courtesy of atrocious planning and management by the former administrators led by Jose Maria Bartomeu.
That has resulted in the loss of players like Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann and Barcelona were also eliminated from their Champions League group this season. The arrival of Xavi Hernandez as new manager has lifted the mood at the Camp Nou and he has shown plenty of promise to deliver strongly. Barcelona have an excellent set of talented youngsters and with the right signings and reinforcements this summer, they will be expected to return to compete for titles.
The left-back position has been coveted by Jordi Alba over the past five years or so. Although the Spaniard has played with flair and distinction, there’s also the feeling that the side needs proper competition in that position. Signings of Lucas Digne and Junior Firpo did little and Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo have reported that Barcelona want to sign a new left-back this summer.
German club Borussia Dortmund have offered the services of their left-back Raphael Guerreiro to Barcelona. The Portuguese international has one year left on his contract and he is unlikely to extend his contract with Dortmund. He wants a fresh challenge and would love to join Barcelona, a club that suits his playing style well.
The report also suggests that Dortmund want a transfer fee in the region of 8-10 million euros for the 28-year-old. Guerreiro is Dortmund’s first choice left-back but he has struggled with injury issues this campaign. Having made 27 appearances for BVB so far this season, and has five goals and four assists to his name.
Barcelona have also been linked with the likes of Marcos Alonso, Grimaldo and Borna Sosa when it comes to the left-back position and it will be interesting to see what eventually happens.
