The situation is changing at Barcelona after the 8-2 humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.
There is a consensus among viewers that it marked the end of the club’s heyday during which it was one of the best clubs in Europe.
Nobody at Camp Nou will want to settle for such a drop and you can almost guarantee there will be big changes at the club this summer.
Sunday’s news that Lionel Messi can’t wait to leave will put clubs across the continent on alert. It’s hard to imagine a day Daniel Levy would sanction such a large contract for a footballer due to his well-documented pay structure.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t any players at Camp Nou who could improve Tottenham Hotspur’s squad. With that in mind, here are the Barcelona players Spurs should consider this summer.
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Emerson
The continuing uncertainty surrounding Serge Aurier’s future at Tottenham has only increased the need for a new right-back to arrive this summer.
The best way to clear that confusion is to sign, at least, a right-back and Emerson could be that man, especially after the Brazilian has had a good season on loan at Real Betis.
He joined Betis as part of a joint deal with Barcelona in which the two sides withheld a percentage of the transfer fee.
That could complicate matters, but if Levy manages to get past that hurdle, he could secure a very talented, aggressive and forward full-back for the Spurs.
Emerson became a senior Brazil international last year and, at just 21, there is still room to grow and develop as a player.
Jean-Clair Todibo
Jan Vertonghen’s farewell opened a space in the center defender that could easily be filled by the French.
Todibo joined Barcelona from Toulouse and spent last season on loan at Schalke in the Bundesliga.
A talented defender who plays with the ball, he has some difficult aspects to work on, but this is the perfect challenge for a manager like Jose Mourinho.
While his defensive positioning can be a weakness at times, his pace often gets him out of jail and if Mourinho can pair him with Toby Alderweireld, he could be the perfect mentor to lead Todibo.
The fact that Barcelona have written a buy option in their contract with Schalke shows that they are willing to sell the defender, and while that may have changed after Bayern’s result, Spurs shouldn’t stay to find out.
Carles Alena
It is debatable whether Francisco Trincao is the best option here, but reports suggest Barcelona have already turned down a £ 45 million offer from Leicester City for the Portuguese striker.
Alena was highly regarded when she first made it to Barcelona, but found limited first-team opportunities at Camp Nou.
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Now rumored to be on the transfer list, it could be the perfect time for Mourinho to steal and capture him.
The Spaniard works well in a central midfield role as part of a double pivot, and would blend well with new signing Pierre-Emil Hojbjerg. A good dribbler with an eye for passing could help mend Tottenham’s offensive play.
His desire to roam the pitch may even see him replace as a more advanced midfielder in Mourinho’s system, with his versatility another plus.
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