Suarez, Umtiti, Digne: Barcelona's Swift Dealings Bode Well for New Treble Tilt

There's always something ominous for rivals when a club does its summer business like this. Swift and methodical, the process radiates purpose and clarity as the construction takes on an authoritative dimension: problem areas are quickly addressed; the existing core is kept intact; remaining preparation time is ample. 

It's the sort of summer activity all clubs strive for but few achieve. This time, though, Barcelona have achieved it. 

On Wednesday, the club confirmed the signing of Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain for an initial €16.5 million. Only 24 hours earlier, the Catalans officially completed the anticipated deal for Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyonnais for €25 million. Just a week before that, they bought back Denis Suarez from Villarreal, too. 

This is Barcelona rapidly ticking boxes that need ticking. Competition at left-back: Digne, check. Added strength at centre-back: Umtiti, check. Cover in midfield and attack: Suarez, check. 

Rivals will be taking notice; Barcelona can be sure of that. Such decisiveness in the market bodes well for a renewed treble tilt for Luis Enrique's men, not least because, for them, this is rather new. 

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Perhaps what has been most remarkable about Barcelona's unrelenting success under Enrique to date is the way it has been achieved despite the headaches of two complicated summers. 

In 2014, the arrival of Luis Suarez that would end up signalling a tactical shift at the Camp Nou came with the issue of the Uruguayan being suspended for the opening months of the season. Though other deals—notably that of Ivan Rakitic—were shrewd, that summer left Barcelona in a state of on-the-fly transition for six months.

A year later, the club was then handcuffed by the transfer ban from FIFA: Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal were signed but couldn't be registered and thus sat on the sidelines until January; the problematic departures of Xavi and Pedro couldn't be addressed. 

Throughout that period, Enrique spoke of frustration, of uncertainty, of wanting "the damned transfer window to close so I know what players I have at my disposal." Ahead of a clash with Atletico Madrid in September, his assessment that Atleti "had a good transfer window and have reinforced well" hinted at an envy born from his inability to do the same. 

Then injuries besieged his small squad: Rafinha, Dani Alves, Thomas Vermaelen, Claudio Bravo and Andres Iniesta. 

"The situation is starting to become a bit of a joke," said Enrique at the time, as reported by Marca. "It's another handicap."

And yet it didn't matter; Barcelona dominated anyway. In 2015-16, the Catalans won four of the six titles they competed for. The season before, despite the complications of Suarez's integration, the return was three from three.

That's seven titles from a possible nine littered around two problematic summers.

And now they're having a good one...

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Though the three deals that Barcelona have completed thus far aren't the landscape-shifting sort, each one is considered and savvy, addressing small sore spots in an otherwise fearsome ensemble. 

None is more significant than the signing of Umtiti. 

Throughout last season, it went unnoticed by many outside Catalonia just how dependent the Barcelona defence was on Gerard Pique.

For 18 months, the centre-back has been colossal at the Camp Nou, but around him, things have been different: Javier Mascherano's lack of pace and size has been an issue that only Pique can help to cover up; Jeremy Mathieu's form nosedived in 2015-16; Vermaelen offers something when fit, but that "when" has become a permanent asterisk hanging over his name.  

Thus, the drop-off when Pique was unavailable was nothing short of extreme last season. Without him, the Barcelona back four was both brittle and unimposing, made evident in the genuine frights given to a Pique-less Barcelona by the modest likes of Malaga and Las Palmas. 

Umtiti changes things, though. 

The sort of centre-back Barcelona have lacked for as many as five years, the Frenchman adds another dimension to Enrique's defence. Though not overly tall at 5'11", Umtiti is the type who plays bigger than his size suggests; his game is blessed with a natural power the Catalans have been without beside Pique.

The 22-year-old also showed at Euro 2016 that he's neat on the ball, crisp with his distribution, composed, and, most importantly, intelligent. His sparkling display against Germany in the semi-finals showed a player who thinks, reads, anticipates and reacts with clarity. 

It's likely, of course, that Umtiti will start the new season as third-choice behind Pique and Mascherano. But he strikes as one whose progression could be quick, and his presence gives options, depth and a feeling of strength to his manager. 

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Elsewhere, the arrival of Digne provides Barcelona with much-needed cover at left-back for Jordi Alba, who was supported in his role last season by the declining and ill-suited Mathieu. Digne will better replicate Alba's punch in attack, while his added size compared to the diminutive Spaniard will represent a useful alternative against certain opponents.  

Denis Suarez, meanwhile, adds the inventiveness that was often missing in Barcelona's supporting cast in 2015-16. Capable of playing in one of the wide attacking berths, the former B-team player—whose work from the left flank at Villarreal last term was impressive—will provide Enrique with opportunities to rest Neymar or Lionel Messi. Suarez is also expected to reduce the load on Iniesta in the left-sided midfield slot and should suit the position more naturally than Turan. 

The suitability of the signings, then, is striking—the club have neatly addressed obvious needs.

But more than that, it's the efficiency with which they've completed the signings that's significant—no fuss, no fanfare; just common sense and decisive action.

One or two more might still be necessary, sure—the loss of Alves to Juventus in particular has created a need at right-back, while a back-up striker would also help—but Barcelona are entering a season in better shape than they have for some time. Theirs is a summer that feels comparable with that of Chelsea in 2014, when Jose Mourinho reloaded with precision and speed and subsequently stormed to that season's Premier League title with alarming ease. 

Now, Enrique will have his eyes on something similar, something better. Under him, Barcelona have dominated Europe for two seasons but have had to fight through obstacles created by difficult summers to do so. But this summer is different.

That enviable core is still there, but previous concerns have been addressed, and still in July, Enrique has significant time to incorporate the fresh elements in his squad. 

It's ominous, and rivals will know it: Barcelona's bid for another treble looks good. 

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