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Barcelona under siege: Europe’s giants shatter Flick’s transfer dreams

Transfer earthquake

Europe’s biggest clubs are caught in a complex summer transfer window, with their interests clashing across a huge number of deals. This is bigger than simply outbidding one another for a target. It sets off a “domino effect” that leaves other clubs badly impacted by the completion or collapse of moves that have nothing to do with their own targets.

Seven clubs are right at the centre of this battle: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Leipzig, Manchester United, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain. On the player side, the competition is intensifying around Vinícius Júnior, Julián Álvarez, Rodri, Yan Diomande, Vesnik Aslani, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Bradley Barcola, Junior Kroupi and Ferran Torres.

Barcelona’s targets

Looking at those names, Barcelona are directly connected to only four players. The first is Julian Alvarez, Hansi Flick’s main target in this window to fill the gap left by Robert Lewandowski. But Atlético Madrid are refusing to budge on any potential deal.

Vesnik Aslani is second on the list, the player Barcelona could move for if the Alvarez chase falls apart. Leipzig also want him, which means the financial fight will be anything but straightforward.

Junior Krupi appears the least likely of the four. The board is divided over signing him, although Flick has so far given his approval.

Ferran Torres completes the quartet. He has still not renewed his contract despite entering the final year at “Spotify Camp Nou”, and his future may depend on whether Barcelona manage to sign Alvarez.

Why is Barcelona the most affected by the domino effect?

Most of the major clubs are looking for summer signings as a luxury, to add depth in specific positions. Take Paris Saint-Germain. They will not be hurt at all after the collapse of the Diomande deal, and even if they miss out on Ferran Torres in the closing days of the mercato, the first-choice and backup options available to Luis Enrique still allow them to compete for both the Ligue 1 and Champions League titles.

Consider Rodri being linked with Real Madrid. Even though the Manchester City star would add huge value, Los Blancos already have Tchouaméni, who can perform the same role, and they can also use Eduardo Camavinga in similar positions.

Arsenal present the same picture. They are competing with Barcelona for the Alvarez deal, but they already have Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, the names who carried the Gunners to the Premier League title and the Champions League final.

Barcelona are different. They are chasing a key piece they cannot afford to go into the new season without if they want to keep fighting in La Liga and finally win the long-awaited Champions League dream. Barca also do not have the financial freedom to outbid a Premier League club in a deal.

Reports indicate that Alvarez is the only name in Barcelona’s mercato who would walk straight into the starting XI at Spotify Camp Nou. Asllani and Kroupi, in contrast, would have to win trust once they put on the Barca shirt, especially since neither has stood out at a major club or at international level.

Real Madrid’s trap

Real Madrid are creating an obstacle in Barcelona’s Alvarez pursuit that is just as awkward as Atlético Madrid. Los Blancos have complicated their historic rivals by placing a 150 million euro bid for the Argentine striker.

Florentino Perez knew the offer would be turned down. But the Real Madrid president had a plan: the move shut the door on Atlético accepting anything below 150 million euros from Barcelona.

A domino effect now ties the Alvarez deal to Vinicius Junior’s future at the Bernabeu. If the Brazilian winger joins Arsenal, the Gunners would drop out of the race with Barca.

It is difficult to imagine Real Madrid letting Vinicius Junior leave this summer, though. If that happened, Arsenal would be free to tighten their grip on Barcelona in the financial battle for Alvarez.

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Terrifying memories

Barcelona are still haunted by the deals Paris Saint-Germain have taken from their ranks. The Neymar da Silva nightmare still hurts. So does Ousmane Dembélé, whose move to the Parc des Princes became a major turning point in his career.

Unwilling to risk losing Ferran Torres for free next January, Barcelona may well approve his move to Paris Saint-Germain. The forward has a strong relationship with Luis Enrique, and he is worried about becoming a marginalised option in the new campaign.

All of this means Barcelona cannot guarantee, at present, that they will begin the new season with a top-class striker like Álvarez. They cannot even rely on a gamble as modest as Ferran Torres.