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Xavi Informs Barcelona Board Which Four Players He'd Want To Sign First As Club Manager

Xavi Informs Barcelona Board Which Four Players He'd Want To Sign First As Club Manager

The former midfielder is the bookies favourite to become the next Barca coach, and he already has a handful of transfer targets in mind.

Tom Fenton

Tom Fenton

After FC Barcelona sacked Ronald Koeman as manager last week, the question immediately turned to who would replace the Dutchman, and thereby take on the responsibility of turning the club's fortunes around.

A week on from the sacking, the bookies favourite is currently former club legend, Xavi.

While nothing is official just yet, according to one outlet, the current Al Saad manager has informed the Barcelona hierarchy of the players he would - theoretically - wish to sign.

Spanish publication El Nacional claims that Xavi has already curated his wishlist...and what a list it is.

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Sergio Barjuan will be in place as head coach for the Catalan Giants' Champions League tie against Dynamo Kyiv tonight, but the paper also speculates that Xavi's deal to take over could be completed in the near future.

In terms of possible arrivals, one man that El Nacional claims to be on Xavi's radar is Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

The Frenchman's contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the current season, meaning that, in theory, Pogba could link up with Xavi and Barca on a free transfer.

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A similar bargain for the club could be found in the form of Erling Haaland, as the Borussia Dortmund forward is set to be available for a cut-price fee next summer.

Numerous reports suggest that a clause in the 21-year-old's contract will mean that he will cost interested parties just £68 million, a fact which will surely alert just about every European giant.

Barcelona will have to convince Haaland to turn down the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and possibly even Bayern if they wish to land Haaland - but Xavi's wishlist doesn't quite end there.

Another youngster who could be headed for Camp Nou next year is Dani Olmo, a player who will be very familiar with the club already, having come through their famous La Masia academy system.

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The 23-year-old left Barca at a young age to find regular football at Croatian giants Dynamo Zagreb - where he excelled.

This subsequently earned the Spaniard a move to RB Leipzig, whom he continues to shine for in the Bundesliga.

Now a fully-fledged Spanish international, perhaps this could be the perfect time for a Barca homecoming, to be managed by a man who knows a thing or two about rising through the La Masia ranks.

The final piece of the puzzle for Xavi is Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, who very nearly joined Chelsea in the summer.

A prodigiously talented Centre-back, the 22-year-old managed to work his way into Didier Deschamps' French Euro 2020 squad, ahead of some serious competition.

Should Xavi get his way in the transfer market, Barcelona will suddenly be a force to be reckoned with again, after a painfully lean period for the club.

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Topics: Xavi, Paul Pogba, Jules Kounde, Barcelona, Erling Haaland, La Liga