When the season ends and the dust settles, the question always comes back: who should Barcelona sign next to chase glory? For a club of Barça’s stature, every transfer window carries not just expectations but existential weight—balancing finances, squad harmony, and sporting ambition. In this article, SanaaGoal will dive deep into the positions Barça most urgently need to strengthen, propose compelling targets, analyze risks, and sketch a possible roadmap for their next signings.
Let’s roll.
Where Barça Needs Reinforcement
Before naming names, it pays to map Barca’s weak points in 2025. Despite winning a domestic treble under Hansi Flick, the squad has visible seams that could unravel under pressure. Key areas to monitor:
- Striker / Goal scorer: With Robert Lewandowski aging and likely departing in the near future, Barca need a long-term successor.
- Centre-back / Defensive solidity: Depth and quality are thin in central defense, especially when injuries strike.
- Full-back / Wing-back options: The modern game demands width from defenders; competition here is limited.
- Creative attacking midfield / winger: Barça’s attack has flair, but depth and variation are required across multiple fronts.
- Goalkeeper / backup-to-starter transition: Ter Stegen’s injury history and age make grooming a successor a sensible move.
Now let’s match those needs with real names and debate which moves make most sense.
Top Targets by Position
Below is a breakdown by priority position, followed by realistic candidates—and their pros, cons, and fit.
Striker / Goal scorer
Barcelona must plan for life after Lewandowski. Here are prime options:
- Serhou Guirassy: The Borussia Dortmund forward is reportedly lowering his release clause to ~€65M, making him a feasible target. He’s prolific, physical, and ready to lead a front line.
- Julian Álvarez: Linked with Barça repeatedly. He brings pace, finishing, and the ability to press, though costs would be steep.
- Etta Eyong: A younger, more affordable alternative. If Barça is willing to bet on potential over proven record, Eyong offers upside at lower risk.
Among those, Guirassy looks like the optimal blend of proven output and negotiability.
Centre-back / Defensive backbone
Barça’s defense needs reinforcement to reduce reliance on first-choice pairings:
- Marc Guéhi: The Crystal Palace centre-back is reportedly high on Barça’s shortlist. With contract expiring in 2026, he represents a reasonable window to negotiate.
- Dayot Upamecano: Linked with Barça recently. Strong, battle-tested, but cost and competition might be barriers.
- Youth / internal promotion: Pau Cubarsí, though already in the system, may still need time to handle constant intensity. Relying solely on youth is risky but can complement more experienced signings.
Guéhi leads the list given his age, potential, and relative availability.
Full-back / Wing-back / Wide defense
Modern full-backs are essential attacking outlets. Barça should look for flexible defenders:
- Joshua Kimmich: A right-back / midfield hybrid. Great for versatility, though going after him hinges on budget and competition.
- Givairo Read: A teenage option from Feyenoord being watched by Barça as a lower-cost project.
- Luis Díaz: Though more winger than full-back, his left-flank dominance draws interest. He could displace aging options in wide roles.
This is more speculative, but getting a promising full-back project would help depth.
Creative midfield / Winger injection
To vary attack patterns and relieve pressure:
- Marcus Rashford: An oft-mentioned name. He has the pace, the experience, and the attraction to match Barça’s style.
- Nico Williams: Barça has pursued him heavily. However, recent reports suggest he renewed with Athletic, raising complexity.
- Luis Díaz (again): Double duty as winger, injecting immediate threat.
Of these, Rashford is possibly the most pragmatic—if wages and fee cooperate.
Goalkeeper / Succession planning
- Joan García: A likely internal successor. Barça reportedly intend to bring him in, with the understanding he becomes the long-term No. 1.
- Backup plan: A veteran with experience to guard the net when needed, but that signing should be modest.
García is the logical choice: youthful, within reach, and with long-term upside.
Strategy & Constraints: What Makes Sense for Barça?
Barcelona is not in a free-spend era. Financial regulations, LaLiga constraints, and past missteps enforce a surgical approach. Here’s how Barça should think:
- Prioritize one marquee name + several under-the-radar gems: E.g. get Guirassy or Guéhi, then complement with younger, affordable options.
- Use buyout clauses and instalment deals: Especially useful given Barça’s past use of these clauses.
- Sell or loan out deadwood: Offload surplus to create wage space.
- Staggered integration: Don’t force new players into starting XI immediately; rotate them in, especially in less critical matches.
- Balance experience & youth: A mixture of proven stars and high-potential projects ensures sustainability and competition.
With that in mind, Barça should aim for a mix of low risk / high potential signings around one or two big names.
Proposed Barcelona Signing Plan
Here’s a hypothetical “dream window” for Barça:
| Priority | Target(s) | Role | Rationale |
| Striker | Guirassy (or Álvarez if dealable) | Lead forward | Replace Lewandowski with a younger, prolific scorer |
| Centre-back | Marc Guéhi | Partner for Koundé / top pairing | Adds depth, youthful strength |
| Full-back / Wing-back | Givairo Read or alternative youth | Future rotation | Build ahead for long-term depth |
| Winger / wide forward | Marcus Rashford | Attack variation | Depth & top-level experience on wings |
| Goalkeeper | Joan García | Future No. 1 | Strategic succession to Ter Stegen |
If Barça manage to land Guirassy + Guéhi + Rashford (or a variant) while promoting a youth full-back and installing García gradually, they’d have addressed all critical gaps.
Risks & Caveats to Watch
No transfer is without risk. Barça must guard against:
- Overpaying for hype: Especially with younger names whose production is unproven at top levels.
- Squad imbalance: Too many attacking signings without shoring defense can backfire.
- Injury history: Always vet medicals carefully.
- Wage inflation / contract length missteps: Don’t commit 6+ years blindly.
- Adjustment periods: New players might take time to adapt; impatience can damage confidence.
Barça should embed performance-based clauses to mitigate risk.
Timeline & Phases
- Early window (June–July): Lock in the marquee target, negotiate instalment payments, and register strategic signings early.
- Mid window (August): Fill secondary roles (winger, full-back) while assessing training performance.
- Later window: Final tweaks, adjustments, possibly bargain deals if others let go.
- Winter window: Reassess gaps; maybe bring in a short-term fix or loan during midseason challenges.
This phased approach ensures flexibility and response to performance/injuries.
Why These Moves Could Work
By targeting who should Barcelona sign smartly, they can:
- Ensure continuity after Lewandowski’s decline or departure
- Prevent defensive collapses by deepening central defense
- Introduce fresh attacking variety and tactical options
- Future-proof the squad through youth and backup planning
- Navigate financial constraints more responsibly than big splurges
If executed well, this kind of transfer plan could keep Barcelona competitive domestically and in Europe, without jeopardizing fiscal stability.
Conclusion
Who should Barcelona sign? In short: a proven goal scorer like Guirassy (or ambitious alternative), a strong centre-back like Guéhi, and a creative attacking option like Rashford—augmented with youth investments and long-term planning. Getting those right fills Barça’s most glaring gaps and gives them flexibility in rotations, competition, and tactical evolution.
Now is the moment for Barcelona to act smart, to build with ambition and vision. SanaaGoal encourages fans to watch the window closely—and drop your own shortlist in the comments. Who would you sign if you ran Barcelona now?
