Former Barcelona B manager Luis Enrique has stepped up to the big leagues, now manager of La Liga the first-team squad, and in order to have a shot at capturing a league crown and beyond, Barca’s board has done what they know best: buy players during the summer transfer window.
Following a multiple signings, principally with the inclusion of Luis Suarez, management at Camp Nou has unsurpsingly spent a sizable amount of funds. Still, Enrique won’t identify an end to the near future as the Sep.1 transfer window deadline fast approaches. If a player comes to their attention, he will be given a fair look.
Right now, Luis Suárez, Ivan Rakitic, Claudio Bravo, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jérémy Mathieu, and most recently, Thomas Vermaelen, have all settled down in the Spain’s second largest city, prepared to wrestle with the consistently high predictions bestowed upon the team every season.
Vermaelen, a £15 million addition, was revered by the Barca’s staff for bolstering a defense, which wasn’t rigid enough last season to help capture at least one championship.
“With the addition of Thomas we completed a defensive line of a very high level,” said sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta. “There are options that we are working on for the exit of some players, as such we’re not discarding so that others could come in.”
Nevertheless, the Belgian’s importance to Arsenal in 2013-14 came as a third center back, and whether he will definitely shore up lapses in the back line is uncertain. In that vein, it’s understandable that Enrique and Zubizarreta may try to find more defensive options because at this phase, snatching a big-name star, even if Barcelona would want to drop £40-£50, would materialize too late.
Bringing about depth, though, could actually help Barca for title contention in the long run.