Barca's Transfer Policy Leaves A Lot To Be Desired

After the countless stories that inevitably emerge during the summer months, one thing has struck me. If there are any truth to the rumours circling Camp Nou, then Cules everywhere, myself included, should be worried.

The three players that have been linked with moves to the club are Cesc Fabregas (shock horror!), Alexis Sanchez and Giuseppe Rossi. All excellent players, all will make the squad stronger on the whole. However, this is where the numerous problems begin to arise. Firstly, they are all attacking players, and they all command first team places at their current clubs. In fact, they are all arguably their respective clubs' most important players. Are they really going to be happy sitting on the bench every week? Is Cesc going to get past the very same players that keep him out of La Seleccion? Are Rossi and/or Sanchez going to get past the M.V.P triumvirate?

The second problem that strike me is: where are the defensive signings? Surely Milito is past his best? Surely Guardiola isn't going to rely on canteras to bolster the defence? As good as they might become, the likes of Fontas, Bartra, and Muniesa aren't ready to play big roles at crucial points in the season. Maybe Mascherano and Busquets will continue to fill in at centre back!

The third, and possibly biggest, problem I see with these three transfers is of course: money. Barca doesn't have much. In fact, they have taken a rather unusual step by declaring that there is only around £40million to spend, plus any revenue from player sales. Obviously, £20-25million can be added to that figure from the presumed sale of Ibra. That gives roughly £65million to spend. Even the most uneducated person could tell straight away that that isn't enough to bring in all three preferred targets. Cesc would cost around £40million, with Sanchez and Rossi coming in at around the £30million mark each. That means that around forty million would need to be raised somehow. And this is where I start getting really worried.

Barca have long been justly proud of La Masia, the famous youth academy that has produced some truly phenomenal players over the last thirty years or so. The club are also just as proud of the fact that the vast majority of the current team are products of the club's youth setup. But I keep reading stories saying that youth players might be shipped out in part-exchange deals to bring down the cash outlay. The names mentioned so far? Thiago, Bojan, Jeffren, Bartra and Fontas spring to mind immediately. However, if there are any higher-ups at the Camp Nou reading this, I have an amazing, foolproof way of reducing the outlay this summer; don't buy these three players!

Let's start with Fabregas. A world class midfielder, no question about that. He is, however, Arsenal's captain, their figurehead. He is already playing top level football. He would be crazy to swap that for the Barca bench, and Barca would be equally as crazy to send Thiago Alcantara the other way as I have read more than once this summer. Thiago is learning his trade, therefore he will be happier to watch from the sidelines and get 15-20 minutes every week, plus a handful of starts when needed. I have been really impressed with him in the few games he has played. He has displayed all the confidence and maturity that Xavi showed at a similar age, and Guardiola before that. It would be madness to farm him out now, just to try and curry favour with the locals by bringing back a hero. A hero, might I say, that turned his back on the club eight years ago. In my humble little opinion, Thiago will be a far better player than Cesc in a few years.

As for the other two, I think it is pretty much guaranteed that both players won't turn up at Barca next season. At time of writing , Alexis Sanchez seems certain to join up, so let's focus on him. He has had a sensational season in Serie A, and looks like a fantastic prospect. He is Chilean, so language isn't a problem. The big problem could be when he doesn't start games. And make no mistake about it; he won't start games immediately. The front three is impenetrable currently. Just ask Bojan! So this begs the question, why spend so much money on a reserve player, who could potentially be disruptive if things aren't going well?

Why does there seem to be such a seeming desperation to get rid of the youth players? Rosell has stated that the youngsters will only be allowed to leave on loan or with buy-back clauses in their contracts. But why sell them at all? Why not trust them to do a job when called upon? The likes of Bojan and Jeffren have done well when they've played, yet both have apparently been touted around in deals for Rossi and Sanchez. Incidentally, it would appear that this has been done without the players' consent or even knowledge.

One very alarming story I have seen a couple of times in the English press is that Barca will raise some cash by selling David Villa. Seriously? If there is even a grain of truth to that, I would be ashamed to support the club. He started last season brilliantly, but the sheer amount of football he has played over the last few years took its toll after Christmas. Just look at Fernando Torres last season. It would not solve anything to sell a player who is now integrated into the lineup and will be the goal scoring machine he was at Valencia once again next season after a summer off at last.

I just hope that most of it is paper talk, and that the club don't suddenly become a selling club, as La Masia is going to be extremely important once the Financial Fairplay rules kick in. Time will tell, I guess.