Barcelona Transfer News: Major Moves, Rumours Linked to Luis Enrique's Squad

Barcelona aren't being shy about their mooted interest in Juventus midfield star Paul Pogba. The treble-winning club's international sporting director, Ariedo Braida, has told Pogba to ditch Serie A for La Liga.

"Everybody wants him," according to Braida, who was speaking during an interview with Italian station Gazzetta TV (h/t ESPN.co.uk.). The English website for Catalan publication Sport carried some more quotes from Braida expressing his admiration for the French ace:

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If he had to choose, I think that Barça would be the club and the team with the project that interests him the most. I would advise him to come to Barcelona. He is an important player that I and the president [Josep Maria] Bartomeu like.

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Few could argue with the idea of Barcelona being an ideal destination for any of football's bright young things. The club has just collected a fifth European Cup after beating Pogba and Juventus in this season's UEFA Champions League final.

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Barca have also established a deserved reputation for building around the promise of youth. Academy graduates such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Pedro and Lionel Messi, have formed the backbone of the most dominant team in European football's modern era.

Even signings such as forward Neymar Jr. and left-back Jordi Alba were brought to the club and given prominent roles despite their tender years. Now Braida is determined to make Pogba the next precocious jewel in the Camp Nou club's crown.

It's not often a team or its spokesman is so direct when discussing a possible transfer target. But Pogba's blend of physical power, natural flair and exceptional technical quality has every top club in football buzzing.

The last central midfielder to offer the same combination of strength and skill was Arsenal's legendary talisman Patrick Vieira. Pogba may yet prove even more dynamic going forward than Vieira.

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What's interesting is how Pogba's potential arrival would make over Barca's midfield ranks. Putting a power player at one of the fulcrum positions would signal a major change from a team usually content to stockpile pint-sized schemers in years gone by.

But Xavi's pending move to Qatar, as well as Iniesta's age, may force a rethink. Iniesta was still a key figure this season at 31 years of age, but manager Luis Enrique hasn't been afraid to mess with the team's famed tiki-taka formula.

Under Enrique, Barcelona have played a slightly more direct and quicker game. Having a long-striding midfielder like Pogba who can turn defence to attack in an instant, may complete that transformation.

Yet there are still reasons to be cautious about Barca's proposed attempts to lure Pogba to La Liga. Back in April, B/R's Spanish football expert Guillem Balague hinted the interest may be merely propaganda ahead of forthcoming presidential elections:

There's also the small matter of the club's ongoing transfer ban to consider. While players can join this summer, they can't be officially registered until January, 2016.

With a European Championship next summer, France talisman Pogba may not want to sit idle for half the season while international boss Didier Deschamps is watching.

Of course, Barca are far from the only major club interested in Pogba. Mega-rich duo Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are also very keen. The former is ready to make a "firm bid," according to Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, Ligue 1 Champions PSG are considered by many, including B/R French football writer Jonathan Johnson as a front-runner in any race for Pogba:

Barca Nearing a Deal for Fluminense Duo

In between telling Pogba to make the Camp Nou his next home, Braida also revealed he will land in Brazil next week to check on two long-term Barcelona targets. The players in question are Fluminense midfielder Gerson and striker Kenedy, according to the English arm of Sport: "Barcelona have someone working there and he has been working on this. There has been an option to sign the two for a while now."

If there is an option to sign the pair waiting to be activated, then Braida's trip is likely a final look at the budding young stars. Still only 17, Gerson is an exceptional talent.

He often owns the middle of the park thanks to a combination of creativity and muscle. Even though he's still learning his craft, this is a player already capable of dictating games from deep.

As for Kenedy, the 19-year-old wide forward possesses deceptive strength to go along with his awesome pace. He also has a natural eye for goal, something that's earned interest from a host of Premier League clubs.

Back in April, champions Chelsea were named as "favourites" to sign Kenedy, per Globoesporte (h/t MailOnline writer Simon Jones). Manchester United were also linked at the time.

But if Barca have won this race, it rates as something of a coup ahead of next season. Not only can the arrivals of Gerson and Kenedy reaffirm the club's commitment to building on a foundation of youth, this double deal would yield two players ready for stardom sooner rather than later.

The move for Pogba could have more pitfalls than Barca are willing to endure amid a transfer ban and with presidential elections on the horizon. But now's the perfect time to secure the signings of two young gems for the future.