Barcelona's Long List of Transfer Targets for 2020 Revealed

Barcelona are planning to recruit for several key positions in 2020, with a right-back, centre-back, striker and potentially even a couple of midfielders all wanted by the Catalans as they continue to build a new squad.

Particularly when it comes to a forward to replace Luis Suarez, who is due to turn 33 in January, Barça are said to be keeping their options open by taking interest in a number of targets.

While there have been rumours that the club will steer clear of Erling Haaland over doubts whether the 19-year-old is worth his expected €100m price tag, the reigning La Liga champions still have some very expensive targets on their radar.

Mundo Deportivo (MD) describes Kylian Mbappé as the ‘dream’, although it is suggested that negotiating a deal will be even harder than the failed Neymar attempts – the Brazilian, as it happens, is no longer believed to be a priority target, even though he wants to return.

Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford are named, but again there is likely to be difficulty, with MD suggesting that only improbable transfer requests will make such players attainable.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is another option, especially as there is gossip that he may not sign a new contract at Arsenal if the club fails again to qualify for the Champions League. Replacing 33-year-old Suarez with a 30-year-old isn’t a long-term solution, however.

MD settles on Inter forward Lautaro Martinez as the best option in a long list. The Argentine has already been heavily linked with Barça for a number of months and there are suggestions from Europe that he has a release clause in his contract that will become active in summer.

But Barça would have to move quick. The story originates from Corriere dello Sport and claims that Martinez has a €111m release clause for just 15 days in July. Outside of that very short window, there is seemingly no ceiling as to what fee Inter could demand.

MD also runs through Barça’s targets for elsewhere on the pitch. At right-back, Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich is of primary interest, but RB Leipzig talent Lukas Klostermann is billed as a potential alternative as he likely to be far more attainable.

In central defence, where Gerard Pique is almost 33, Nikola Milenkovic at Fiorentina is an option, as could be Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen. Both are aged 23 or younger.

Midfield is not necessarily a primary concern. But in the event of player departures – Arturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic have both expressed frustration over a lack of starts this season – it could prompt Barça to look for reinforcements there as well. MD names Napoli’s Spanish international Fabian Ruiz, as well as Willian, who is expected to be released by Chelsea at the end of the season.

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