Barcelona wants to boost their team for next season, sources at ESPN say. Xavi Hernandez, the coach, is looking for a defensive midfielder and two full-backs. He wants more competition for Oriol Romeu, the current pivot.

Barcelona also needs better full-backs. Joao Cancelo and Alejandro Balde are good, but Sergi Roberto and Marcos Alonso are not. Barcelona has little money, so they are looking for players who are free or cheap.

Cancelo and Balde are doing well as full-backs, and Xavi is happy with them. But Cancelo's loan from Manchester City has no option to buy, so Barcelona will have to pay City which may prove problematic. Roberto and Alonso are also ageing and out of contract next year and could be allowed to depart.

Juan Foyth from Villarreal is an option, but his price is a problem. Villarreal asked for Foyth's EUR54.6m release clause last summer but Barca think they can get the price down. Another intriguing summer awaits.