Spanish La Liga champions Barcelona certainly need a major shakeup in the summer especially after a torrid season till date.
Barcelona pulled the plug on Ernesto Valverde as their manager shortly after the Spanish Super Cup tournament last month when a lot of the club’s fans thought that decision would have been made after the Champions League collapse at Liverpool last season.
Barcelona had taken a 3-0 lead at home in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal tie with Liverpool before the team collapsed to a 4-0 defeat to the Reds at Anfield in the second leg thereby losing a three-goal advantage for the second successive season under Valverde.
In his first season at the club, Ernesto Valverde lost a three-goal lead against Italian Serie A capital club AS Roma in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie.
Barcelona had taken a 4-1 lead at home in the first leg before losing the second leg of the last eight tie 3-0 in Rome. The Barcelona hierarchy led by the controversial Jose Bartomeu decided to sack Valverde after the 3-2 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup last four in January.
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The Catalans went on to appoint Quique Setien in his place after club legend Xavi Hernandez turned down the job mainly for the treatment of Valverde by the Barcelona board before his sack was announced.
Barcelona were also rocked by the injury to star striker Luis Suarez after the Uruguayan was ruled out of action for four months after knee surgery. The club failed to sign a striker when it was evident that one was required.
The Catalans are expected to be very busy in the transfer market irrespective of what happens between now and the rest of the season. Here are the players that could leave Barcelona this summer.
1. Philippe Coutinho
The Bayern Munich loanee is expected to return to Barcelona this summer after his loan spell with the Germans before being sold to a new club in the summer possibly.
2. Ivan Rakitic
The Croatian has just one year left on his Barcelona contract and a move away from Barcelona this summer is most likely.
