Why Marco Reus Would Be a Dream Transfer Coup for Barcelona

Marco Reus is the kind of player who could grace Barcelona and just about any other team in world football.

The Borussia Dortmund winger has long been coveted by Barca and Real Madrid plus a handful of Premier League clubs. And with good reason.

The German has the ability to adapt his game to complement any number of tactical variations that a suitor would like to employ.

Adept at holding up play with his back to goal and popping off inch-perfect passes, Reus is also completely comfortable in taking on players with a direct route to goal that often unsettles the opposition.

At 5'11", Reus doesn't necessarily fit the profile of the attacking midfielder that the Catalans would normally plump for, but with a game that fuses the best of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, Reus' hybrid role would be perfectly suited to Barca's style of play.

Moreover, he would be competent enough to supplement Barca's attacks aerially when required. Reus' prowess in an area where the Catalans evidently need to improve would therefore be welcomed.

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The agent of Dortmund winger Marco Reus (25) has met with Barcelona transfer adviser Braida and with Real Madrid representatives. [sport]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) April 19, 2015"

Of course, there is still the small matter of a transfer embargo in place, so any deal, were it to happen, wouldn't come to fruition until January 2016 at the earliest.

And Reus seems keen to know just how any proposed deal might work, according to Mundo Deportivo (via Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror). He noted that Barca have already been in touch and has sought assurances as to where he would fit in the current Blaugrana first XI.

To that end, the player's agent, Volker Struth, was given explicit instructions to prioritise clubs where the German is assured to be playing a key role.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

The report also went on to state that Reus would be available at a knockdown £20 million, and with Marc-Andre ter Stegen's agent also Reus' old coach at Borussia Monchengladbach, Barca felt they were best placed to negotiate, despite the ban being in place.

However, Reus has since signed a new contract at Borussia Dortmund, so the parameters of any potential deal might be different to those reported in February.

Also, quite how the Catalans would get around any ban is negligible at this stage, but don't for one minute think this would never happen this summer. Remember last summer when Barca miraculously signed seven players during the appeals process.

There's always a way to do business, even if it comes down to legal nuances to push through any deals.

With Xavi more than likely on his way out of the club, Iniesta out of form and Sergi Roberto not really becoming the player that Barcelona had hoped, Ivan Rakitic is carrying the torch at present.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Reus' energy and verve would complement the Croat's game perfectly, but one would assume that Iniesta, despite his lack of contribution on a goals or assists front, remains one of the "undroppables" along with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

When you look at the numbers, however, the reality is Reus should be one of the first names down on the teamsheet.

According to WhoScored.com, 11 goals and six assists in all competitions compares to three goals and four assists for Iniesta, six goals and six assists for Rakitic and one goal and seven assists for Xavi.

Not to mention that if any one of Barca's front three were injured, Reus could do a decent job there too.

It would be a no-brainer, so Barca's legal team better get to work. This is one transfer they can't afford to miss out on.