A summer of change looks to be on the horizon for Barcelona.
Hansi Flick’s team are in a strong position to retain their La Liga title from last season and lifted the Supercopa de Espana in January against Real Madrid, but defeats to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals and Copa del Rey semi-finals stung.
So how is their current squad looking, who could be brought in and what can they afford? The Athletic’s Barcelona correspondents Pol Ballus and Laia Cervello Herrero explain.
Goalkeepers
Where do they need to strengthen and why?
There is no question Joan Garcia has been an excellent signing and can expect to remain as Barcelona’s No 1 for the foreseeable future. Wojciech Szczesny stayed as his back-up and has one year left on his contract after signing a new deal last summer.
Barca are happy with the impact the 35-year-old has had in the dressing room, he is seen as a mentor figure and has accepted being used only in case of emergency. But, if Garcia is unavailable, senior sources acknowledge they would have a big problem with Szczesny as their only option.
There is a growing belief within the club that they will be in for a new backup goalkeeper this summer.
Barcelona may be in for a new back-up goalkeeper (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Who might they bring in and who could be on the way out?
Real Sociedad’s Alex Remiro has often been mentioned in local reports and the club’s sporting direction department like him. He is under contract until summer 2027, though, and the keeper situation is not one of Barca’s top priorities.
There is also Inaki Pena, who has spent the season on loan at La Liga strugglers Elche. Despite some positive moments, Pena has not been able to establish himself as the first choice there. There are doubts about him returning to Barca, given his previous clash with Flick in January 2025, when the German manager dropped him from the lineup for lateness.
Looking at La Masia, the standout prospect to potentially take over in that backup role is United States youth international Diego Kochen. This is the second consecutive season in which the 20-year-old has been training regularly with the first team, although he has remained the reserve side Barcelona Atletic’s No 1.
There is an elephant in the room in all this: Marc-Andre ter Stegen. The club captain went on loan to Girona in January after a summer saga over a back injury and Barca’s registration issues. But the German suffered a hamstring tear after two games, which was expected to keep him out for five months.
Barca will try to move Ter Stegen on, but his significant salary and the two remaining years on his contract won’t make it easy, while the player is not expected to push for a move either.
Defenders
Where do they need to strengthen and why?
Barcelona want to sign a left-footed centre-back — or at least one who can play on the left side of defence. They never replaced Inigo Martinez in that department and have struggled to find a suitable partner for 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi.
Left-back Gerard Martin and Eric Garcia have been the most common choices for that role and have performed well. But that has taken away from Barca’s squad depth in other positions. Given the demands of Flick’s style, Barca feel they need to bolster the squad with a top-end addition.
Who might be on the way out?
Andreas Christensen’s contract ends this summer and there have been no developments in terms of the 30-year-old agreeing to an extension. Barca sources say an offer has been made to the Denmark international, but on heavily reduced terms compared to his current salary.
It is worth keeping an eye on Ronald Araujo. The Uruguay defender has experienced a turbulent season and was granted a period of absence in December following problems with his mental health. Araujo returned in January and has played 19 times in the second half of the season, but has not come close to becoming a starter.
He does not urgently need to consider his future, though — he signed a six-year deal last year, tying him to the club until 2031. He is on a good salary and sources close to the player insist he and his family are very happy with life in Spain.
Who might they bring in?
Alessandro Bastoni is the No 1 candidate on sporting director Deco’s wishlist. Inter’s Italy centre-back fits Barca’s criteria and club sources believe the 27-year-old is keen on the move. Barca will need to pay a significant sum if Inter are to sell one of their most valuable players, however.
Alessandro Bastoni is top of Barcelona’s wish list at centre-back (Stefano Rellandini/ AFP via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Joao Cancelo re-joined Barca on loan from Al Hilal in January to help Flick’s squad with their injury crisis at the time. The Portugal international has performed above expectations at left-back, starting both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico.
Dressing-room sources believe Cancelo is keen to stay, but the 31-year-old is under contract with Al Hilal until 2027 and his full salary is out of reach for Barca, who would also need the full-back to be available on a free transfer or for a minimal fee.
It sounds complicated, but with his agent Jorge Mendes involved and Cancelo not having a clear role at his Saudi Pro League side, anything could happen.
Midfielders
Where do they need to strengthen and why?
This is the area where Barca are well-stocked. Flick has ample options in Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Dani Olmo. Fermin Lopez began the season with rumours of a possible move to Chelsea, meanwhile, but has enjoyed his best season yet.
Academy graduates Marc Bernal and Marc Casado have experienced parallel fortunes in recent seasons. Flick was initially impressed by Bernal as a potential Sergio Busquets successor but the youngster was out for a year from August 2024 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Casado made the most of Bernal and De Jong both being injured but has lost prominence since they returned, to the point he now barely plays.
Bernal is back in form now after his return in September. That means Flick has Pedri, two options in defensive midfield and three for the attacking midfield position: Olmo, Fermin and Gavi, who has only just returned from a serious knee injury but is playing well.
Who might be on the way out?
The midfielder who could lose out is Casado. Flick told the 22-year-old at the start of the season that it would be difficult for him to get playing time, and he has made just 14 starts across all competitions. Barring any major surprises, he is the most likely to leave this summer.
Marc Casado could be on his way out this summer (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)
No signings are planned in midfield and it is also one of the areas where La Masia produces the most players. The 19-year-old Tommy Marques, for example, made his debut earlier this season and could be given more playing time next term.
Forwards
Where do they need to strengthen and why?
Barcelona need to reinforce their forward line. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha are Flick’s key players on either wing, but neither Robert Lewandowski or Ferran Torres have fully impressed at centre-forward this season — and the Poland striker’s future is uncertain.
Flick has split the pair’s playing time, with an unsatisfactory outcome in terms of the team’s scoring. This could be Lewandowski’s final season at Barca, with his contract expiring in June and Barca considering replacing the 37-year-old.
Torres has not nailed down that No 9 spot either, so the feeling that Barca need to dip into the market has not gone away, and their search for a centre-forward will dominate this summer.
Who might be on the way out?
Torres has not committed his long-term future to the club. His deal runs until summer 2027 and there is no extension on the table — suggesting Barca would be open to listening to offers from elsewhere. His recent form — the 26-year-old made 13 appearances without scoring between February 3 and April 11 — did not help his case.
Lewandowski could also be on his way out as his contract expires in the summer. Barca would be open to him staying for another year in a backup role if he takes a significant pay cut. But it is unclear whether he will accept that, given he has suitors.
Robert Lewandowski’s contract ends this summer (Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images)
Barca’s interest in retaining Rashford after his loan spell ends this summer, meanwhile, has cooled. The Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico did him no favours, with the England forward poor in front of goal in the first leg and then putting in an erratic performance after coming off the bench at the Metropolitano.
Club sources believe he had a golden chance to make his mark this month following Raphinha’s latest hamstring injury, and that he did not fully take it. There is also the question of cost for Barca — they have a €30million (£26.1m; $35.3m) buy option for the 28-year-old, but as things stand they don’t intend to trigger it.
In February, The Athletic reported contact between Barca and the player’s camp over a permanent deal in the summer. Club officials met with Rashford’s camp and confirmed they were happy with his performances and his fit with the dressing room.
Barca said they would explore the conditions of a new deal in the summer and raised the idea of paying the €30million clause in instalments. United’s position has been that they will not renegotiate the original deal.
Barca sources were given the sense in that meeting that Rashford’s personal terms would not be a problem, but two months later the club is already considering other options for the forward line, although sources close to Rashford say Barca have not communicated any decision.
Who might they bring in?
Julian Alvarez is the dream signing. The Barca board thinks Atletico’s Argentina striker would make a perfect fit.
Flick’s staff like the 26-year-old too, but club sources are worried they may struggle to reach Atletico’s valuation, which will likely be €100million at least. Everything points to this being the saga of the summer.
The Athletic reported in March that Barca were working from two lists of striker targets: a top tier with names such as Alvarez and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane — although signing the England captain is seen as unlikely — and another below that with players Barca were keeping close tabs on, such as Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen and Omar Marmoush of Manchester City.
Julian Alvarez would be Barcelona’s dream signing (Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Osasuna winger Victor Munoz is another name high on Deco’s list of potential reinforcements. At 22, he has been one of the breakout stars of La Liga this term and is expected to go to this summer’s World Cup with Spain. He joined Osasuna last summer from Real Madrid and also played for Barca’s youth setup when he was younger, alongside left-back Alejandro Balde.
Madrid have an €8million buy-back clause for the player but it is unclear whether they intend to trigger it. Munoz’s Osasuna contract has a €40m release clause, but Madrid also have to be informed of any offers made for him. Barca sources say the club are interested in the winger and that, were he to join, he would fill the role played by Rashford.
What will be possible this summer?
Barca sources are confident the club will be able to operate normally in the transfer market this summer — but we have heard that before.
Their latest salary limit numbers, imposed by La Liga, did improve in January to the tune of €82million, rising from €351m to €433m.
Last month, Barcelona treasurer Ferran Olive told local outlet Cronica Global that the club were “€12million away from entering the 1:1 rule in La Liga’s salary limit” — referring to the ratio whereby a Spanish club can spend a euro for every euro they offload in their salary budget.
“Barca are in a condition to sign a top striker next summer,” Olive added. “In fact, I can say the club is actively looking for it.”
Senior club sources insist their biggest hurdle won’t be the money they have available to spend on transfer fees, but how they can make new additions fit within their league salary cap. Expect more concrete developments on this front in the weeks and months to come.