Breaking Down Odds on Latest Barcelona Transfer Rumours

As each summer rolls round, Barcelona are linked with name upon name of world football's top talents.

The 2013 transfer window is proving no exception.

The Catalan giants cannot, however, sign them all. Nobody can—no, not even Monaco.

So, we just talk endlessly about whether or not players will come or go and whether or not they would actually do any good if they moved.

Let us now look at the latest players linked with a move to Barca, and we will break down their chances of arrival.

Daniel Agger

Daniel Agger is one of a number of defenders who have been linked with a move to the Blaugrana for some time now.

With the clearly prioritised Thiago Silva looking increasingly unlikely of moving from PSG, the Catalans could turn their attention to the man at the heart of Liverpool's back-line.

Mundo Deportivo, in Spain, is today reporting that the Dane would be Barcelona's second choice for the job.

As per ESPN, the report stems from a Catalan radio interview with Liverpool academy chief Rodolfo Borrell, who mentioned that Agger would be a perfect fit in Barca's style of play .

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"He [Agger] has the right characteristics to adapt... At Barca, where all the centre-backs are right-footed, to have a lefty would make it much easier to bring the ball out."

"

The Necessity (9/10)

It is simple really.

Does Barcelona need a centre-back? Yes. 

There is no need for discussion. Everybody knows it and thankfully the club's technical staff seems to realise now too.

Agger might not be at the top of everyone's list, but if the alternative was nobody, few Cules would even blink.

The Odds (3.5/10)

Agger has definitely been considered by Barca, if not now, then at least in the past.

However, a few praises from a Liverpool employee on Catalan radio do not see him leapfrog other more likely candidates such as Inigo Martinez.

Following Jamie Carragher's retirement, Brendan Rogers would loath to see the Dane leave Anfield. 

Agger shrugged off injury problems last year and was the permanent fixture in Liverpool's defence.

Further, as Goal reported two weeks ago, he announced his intentions to continue with The Reds .

Barca will sign a defender, but it probably will not be Daniel Agger.

Fernando Torres

Yes, you read correctly.

This past week Barcelona has been linked with a shock move for the striker everyone loves to rag on, Fernando Torres.

Catalan paper Sport has claimed that the club would be willing to bid €20 million for Chelsea's Spanish international.

The rumours were fuelled when new Blues boss Jose Mourinho was quoted in Goal as calling Torres' Chelsea career "so-so." 

Torres would be used as a tactical alternative at the Camp Nou, bringing qualities currently unavailable to Tito Vilanova.

He could be used as a super-sub in the mould of Henrik Larsson, as a No. 9 ahead of Messi or even off the right flank where he has in the past proven comfortable.

However, is Torres really necessary?

The Necessity (1.5/10)

Torres is not actually the disaster he is often made out to be, he showed that with 22 goals last season, and he would probably adapt better than many would assume.

However, after spending €57 million on Neymar, a further €20 million on another forward would be positively absurd.

The 'Plan B' theory is rubbish. The Catalans do not need one and their attack is packed as it is.

A cheap tactical alternative, happy to spend most his time on the bench might be an option, but that certainly is not 'El Niño.'

The Odds (2/10)

The only chance of Torres ending up at Barcelona is if Jose Mourinho forces his exit and his transfer fee is drastically reduced.

Mourinho, however, has said nothing surprising. Most pundits would be far more scathing than labelling him "so-so."

If he is transfer listed, Chelsea will probably ask for a significant amount and thus Torres' future lies away from the Camp Nou.

Laurent Koscielny

Another year, another Gunner on the move to the Blaugrana?

Marca reports that the Barca technical team believes that Laurent Koscielny has the perfect profile to play as a centre-back at the Camp Nou.

After Sport broke the news in Spain, Goal reported that Koscielny's representative Stephane Courbis told French media that his agent was "part of a shortlist of three or four players" for both Barcelona and Pep Guardiola's Bayern Munich.

The news should not be much of a surprise given the Frenchman's stellar year, which demonstrated he is among the best central defenders in England. Of those defenders, including Daniel Agger and the likes of Vincent Kompany, Koscielny is best suited to Barcelona's game.

Most Barca fans would remember his outstanding performance against Lionel Messi and co. at the Emirates in 2011.

The Frenchman showed exactly the sort of proactive defensive approach which has made Carles Puyol the best defender at the Camp Nou over the past decade.

The Necessity (9.5/10)

As already mentioned, Barcelona desperately needs a centre-back and particularly one of Koscielny's particular profile.

The Frenchman has pace, quality on the ball, aerial prowess and best of all exceptionally pure defensive skills.

His preference for an aggressive approach, coming off the defensive line is not dissimilar to Puyol and would suit Gerard Piqué nicely.

The Odds (6.5/10)

This is definitely one to watch.

If Koscielny's agent is to be believed, then the Frenchman would be a favourite, along with younger options Inigo Martinez and Brazilian Marquinhos, to join Tito Vilanova's side this summer.

Arsene Wenger, however, would be seriously reluctant to let go of his best defender.

Goal reports that Arsenal has valued Koscielny at 23.5 million in an effort to ward off interest.

The Catalans can be encouraged by Koscielny's own words, when he spoke to Eurosport earlier in June.

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"I have to see if clubs [are] interested. I will not go to any club. I want to maybe discover another league. It is hard to not win titles year after year. I want to add to my list of achievements. If Arsenal cannot allow me that, I'll seek a move elsewhere."

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Juan Mata

As noted on Goal, Juan Mata, incredibly surprisingly, is one of the names the media believes that Jose Mourinho sees as expendable to his plans at Chelsea this season.

The pint-sized attacking playmaker enjoyed a superb season at Stamford Bridge, scoring 11 goals and laying on 17 assists in 35 games to earn a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

Recent days, however, have been spent denying exit rumours.

Now The Daily Mail reports that Barcelona is courting the player and his father, who acts as his son's representative, while preparing a mammoth £30 million bid for the Spaniard.

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FC Barcelona are reported to be planning a bid for Chelsea's Juan Mata. More on that to follow...

— AS English (@English_AS) June 19, 2013"

The Necessity (1/10)

This deal really would not make any sense. 

The last thing Barca needs is another attacking midfielder and their funds would be best directed elsewhere.

Even if the likes of Thiago, Villa and Tello all leave, Mata is a completely different type of player.

The Odds (1/10)

Just like food, when a transfer rumour smells dodgy, it normally is.

Barcelona does not need Mata and nor can they afford him.

Further, why on earth would Chelsea sell their best player?

So, what do you think of these, and other rumours linking players to Barca? Who would you like to see the Blaugrana target in the coming weeks?

Comment below and join me on Twitter: Follow @palabrasBarca