Biggest Remaining Transfer Requirement for Each Liga Team
With around six weeks to go until the new La Liga season starts up in Spain, teams are already well into their preparations for the 2015-16 campaign as they look to begin pre-season training and friendly matches with new faces integrated into their squads.
Several major signings have already been completed, out-of-contract players have been renewed and retained or discarded, and each of the 20 teams is beginning to take shape.
That said, there's still plenty of business to be done before the season kicks off and the transfer window shuts, so here we take a look at each club in turn and assess what their biggest priority should be to get sorted beforehand.
All transfers stated confirmed are based on Transfermarkt's records.
Athletic Bilbao: Attacking Midfield
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Athletic Bilbao's relatively small pool of availability naturally means they may struggle at any one time to have a squad with an even level of quality throughout.
The start of this year might be tough for them unless they pluck a signing or two out; with Iker Muniain injured and Andoni Iraola now departed, experience and quality on the ball is looking a little light in the midfield positions. Iraola played much of last season either from the right of five midfielders or in a more central, ball-controlling role, while Muniain flitted as usual between left side and No. 10.
Gorka Elustondo's arrival on a free gives them another central midfield option, but unless Ibai Gomez or Markel Susaeta improve markedly on last year's form, they really need someone else to provide service and support to the front man.
Atletico Madrid: Central Defence Cover
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A big summer of change has already been underway at Atletico Madrid, with striker changes at the top of the list: Mario Mandzukic out, Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto in.
They will undoubtedly still look to add one or two more, with manager Diego Simeone's squad looking a little thin at the back in particular following Miranda's exit to Inter Milan and Emiliano Velazquez rejoining Getafe on loan. A centre-back to provide cover and competition for Diego Godin and Josema Gimenez is paramount.
Arda Turan is also a big departure, but that could mean a more prominent role for Saul Niguez rather than a direct replacement coming in.
Barcelona: Sell a Centre-Back and Wait for January
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Barcelona's somewhat farcical "transfer ban" has seen them sign two players regardless, with Turan and Aleix Vidal joining now but not eligible to play until January. They boast a squad already the envy of everyone in world football, with Barca having won the treble last year.
Those attacking options will be important in the new year, but for now, the squad perhaps needs trimming at the opposite end: With Thomas Vermaelen back to fitness, they now have five central defenders, and one surely has to make way. If Vermaelen is to be given a chance, Marc Bartra should decide to look elsewhere—he was superb last season when given the opportunity to play and would make a huge name for himself if he were established as a first choice at a new club this season.
Martin Montoya has left on loan, but with Dani Alves' renewal, Barcelona have little need to replace him.
Celta Vigo: Replace the Midfield Quality of Michael Krohn-Dehli
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Santi Mina's €10 million departure to Valencia means Celta Vigo have money to spend this summer—and it absolutely must go toward finding a suitable replacement for Danish central midfielder Michael Krohn-Dehli.
The playmaker was instrumental in Celta's revival in 2015, acting as a metronome in the centre of the park who made the team tick and provided service to the talented attacking line. Iago Aspas is back "home" after a failed jaunt around Europe's elite with Liverpool and Sevilla, but another forward would be appreciated, too.
First and foremost, though, Krohn-Dehli's excellent use of the ball, industrious performances and reliable presence in the centre have to be replicated or replaced.
Deportivo La Coruna: Add Goals to a Team Who Struggled to Score Last Year
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Deportivo La Coruna's problems were clear last year: They struggled to score often enough, and it almost cost them a place in the top flight. Depor have permanently brought in Oriol Riera, formerly of Wigan and who spent part of last year on loan with Depor, but he alone is not enough.
There is a fair defensive base in place if the organisation and coaching is good, but more must be done ahead of them.
Toche has departed, and Isaac Cuenca has done the same; Depor must add more firepower to avoid a repeat of last year's struggles.
Eibar: Everything
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Eibar were shockingly impressive in the first half of last season and simply shocking in the second. They slumped down the table from eighth to 18th and were initially relegated—only to be reinstated thanks to Elche's financial problems.
They haven't signed anybody yet, and their 2015 form is simply unbearable: 22 games, 15 defeats. Everything has to change—mentality, quality, players, approach—if this new campaign is to start any differently.
Worse still, some of their better performers from last season were only on loan and have now returned to their parent clubs, including Manu del Moral and Fede Piovaccari.
Espanyol: Replace Sergio Garcia's Goals, Leadership and Industry
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Thievy Bifouma's return from loan may aid Espanyol's difficult task to replace outgoing captain Sergio Garcia, but the former Spanish international provided almost everything that was good about the team's offensive play last season.
Garcia retained skill and touch, finishing prowess and non-stop work rate, pushing the team on and leading from the front. He's off to Qatar, though, so Espanyol have to find some way to bring more goals into the side as well as that natural determination and fearlessness that Garcia possessed.
Signing Lucas Vazquez would have been a big plus for them—Real Madrid exercised a clause to buy him back after last year's loan was initially made permanent—but they could still do with another midfield option of quality.
Getafe: Rebuild After Several Departures
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Getafe finished last season in 15th place, and to be perfectly honest, a repeat performance would represent an excellent season for them.
They'll have to work hard in the transfer market to do so, though; more than half a dozen first-team departures have already occurred as a result of either the end-of-loan spells or the ends of contracts, including the likes of Diego Castro, Alvaro Arroyo and Naldo. All told, they have to replace players who featured for a combined 9,500 minutes of La Liga game time—without any income from their exits.
Juan Valera or Arroyo on the right and Naldo in the centre were all part of the defensive quartet on a regular basis, so there's a good starting point for the rebuild.
Granada: Centre-Back and Centre-Forward
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Granada's dramatic escape from relegation means the Pozzo family now has top-flight teams in England (Watford), Italy (Udinese) and, of course, Spain. That means a greater freedom of movement between those clubs, as has been their habit, for the top players if necessary.
It's tough to know, therefore, exactly who the priority club is and whether Granada will benefit hugely from that merry-go-round this year, but the departure of Jeison Murillo clearly leaves a big hole to fill in central defence.
In addition, they should be looking for a scoring striker, having netted only 29 goals as a team last year despite the unpredictable—but inconsistent—presence of the likes of Jhon Cordoba and Youssef El Arabi.
Las Palmas: Goalkeeper and All-Round Quality
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Las Palmas have made a decent start to their return to La Liga by securing last season's top scorer, Sergio Araujo, on a permanent deal.
They still need to add much more talent to their side if they want to prolong their stay, though, with minimal top-flight experience present in their squad. One name viewers will recognise is Juan Carlos Valeron, now 40 years of age and still going.
Las Palmas also need to add a goalkeeper to their squad, having seen Casto, No. 1 for much of last season, depart for Almeria.
Levante: Replace the Goals of Barral and Uche, Which Kept Them Up
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Levante were inconsistent and erratic last year but made the critical decision to add goals in January, with Kalu Uche coming in to partner David Barral. The two did enough damage between them to win games and points for Levante—but now both have departed.
Momo Sissoko, Ivan Ramis and Andreas Ivanschitz have also left after their contracts expired.
Ruben and Verza, goalkeeper and midfielder, have both arrived as experienced free transfers from Almeria, but Levante need to find some consistent quality in the final third if they are to avoid last year's struggles—Victor Casadesus isn't going to find the net enough by himself.
Malaga: Rebuild the Attack
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Malaga's mixed season leaves them without European football this term, so they really need to start again with building a side that can challenge toward the top six or seven in La Liga—especially as three quarters of their attack has been snapped up this summer.
Nordin Amrabat, on loan last year, has come in on a permanent deal, but Juanmi has gone to Southampton and both Samu Castillejo and Samuel have headed to Villarreal.
Charles is a reasonable signing who will add pace and work rate to the front line, but quality in the wide areas is paramount, and another forward capable of finishing chances—Amrabat is great in the build-up but erratic in the box—would go a long way. On a side note, a replacement for centre-back Sergio Sanchez is another high priority.
Rayo Vallecano: Find a Way to Replace Alberto Bueno
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Rayo Vallecano perhaps overachieved last season given that their squad was put together with loans, free transfers and established-but-not-stand-out players, so it will take some effort to replicate last term and achieve another mid-table finish.
They remain an attractive proposition for potential signings, though, given their fearless way of playing under manager Paco Jemez—but like a few of these mid-table sides, the attack needs a rebuild.
Leo Baptistao's loan ended, Manucho has left on a free transfer and Alberto Bueno has done the same, departing to FC Porto after a superb individual campaign. Replacing the latter will be Rayo's biggest challenge, with Bueno contributing goals, tremendous movement and no shortage of bravery in defensive situations from his No. 10 role.
Real Betis: Quality, Not Quantity
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Real Betis are back in the top flight, and their recruitment is well underway—and the signs are positive. The only thing they must focus on is continuing to do what they have been: signing players of repute and ability, not just numbers to boost the squad.
Rafael van der Vaart is in, and so is Francisco Portillo from Malaga. There are high hopes for German Pezzella, a centre-back from River Plate, with more signings likely on the way—plus talented youngster Alvaro Vadillo back to full fitness after missing most of last year through injury.
If Betis could add a proven scorer to their ranks, they'll boost their chances of survival considerably, but the squad is looking in decent shape at this stage of the summer.
Real Madrid: Goalkeeper
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David de Gea is of course Real Madrid's big target this summer—and no wonder.
The goalkeeper was comfortably the best in the Premier League last year, helping his side into the Champions League with some match-winning performances, while Keylor Navas hasn't really had a huge number of chances for Real, and Iker Casillas is simply never going to return to the top level he once enjoyed—at least not while he remains at Real.
The Mirror reported that Casillas may join Porto soon, which would make the move for De Gea even more appropriate and important.
Real's squad is stacked elsewhere, and departures are likely for two or three players, though Sergio Ramos would of course need replacing if he heads to Manchester United, who are reported as interested in the same Mirror article.
Real Sociedad: Goalscorer, Goalkeeper
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Real Sociedad have plenty of options within their squad for manager David Moyes to change things around, but lots of them are more or less of equal standing rather than having too many stand-out names.
The first thing Moyes needs to decide is whether Carlos Vela is his striker, No. 10 or wide threat—and then upgrade an area of the attack accordingly. Considering the ineffectiveness of Alfred Finnbogason for large spells last term and Imanol Agirretxe being out of favour, an out-and-out striker might be a wise purchase.
La Real also need a goalkeeper; Geronimo Rulli is back for a second season on loan, but Enaut Zubikarai, who started last season as the No. 1, has left on a free.
Sevilla: Replacement for Carlos Bacca
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Sevilla's recruitment is well underway and, as ever, looks impressively astute. All of the moves won't necessarily work out, but it's hard to argue against their logic: Aleix Vidal and Carlos Bacca have gone for a combined excess of €30 million, with Yevhen Konoplyanka, Michael Krohn-Dehli and Gael Kakuta coming in for less than €5 million combined.
Adil Rami boosts the centre of defence, too, while Iago Aspas signed permanently before immediately transferring back to old club Celta Vigo.
Winners of the Europa League last season, Sevilla will therefore compete in the Champions League this term as well as fight for a top-four finish in La Liga. That makes a direct goalscoring replacement for Bacca—a quality, regular striker with pace and good movement—an absolute must, and they have the money to get one.
Sporting Gijon: Top-Flight Experience and Quality
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Sporting Gijon finished second in la Segunda and will be hoping for survival in their first season back in La Liga.
They haven't gotten started with any new signings yet, so the hope has to be that they have a clear list of targets and objectives in mind. They need to upgrade most areas of the team simply for additional top-flight ability, with a fairly young squad all-round in place.
Eibar showed last year that a second-tier squad can win games...but they also showed they can spiral out of control if additional quality isn't added. Sporting and the other promoted sides have to learn the lessons of the Basque team and invest accordingly.
Valencia: Central Midfield and Keeping Otamendi
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Valencia's big spend kicked off with some deals that were already in place—Alvaro Negredo from Manchester City and the Benfica trio of Joao Cancelo, Andre Gomes and Rodrigo. Their "extra" business has been the double capture of young attacking talent Zakaria Bakkali and Santi Mina—each an exciting player to watch the development of this term.
A strong overall squad could do with a top-class addition in the centre of midfield, especially a holding player.
Javi Fuego was critical to the balance of the team last year, but if he is out injured or unable to play each game in both Liga and Champions League, they have nobody of his mindset or skill set to come in and be the destroyer who protects the defence and allows Dani Parejo and Co. to dictate play further upfield.
A striker who can score with regularity would also be nice—but having splashed out on Negredo, it's unlikely we'll see them add further in that area. Keeping hold of Nicolas Otamendi should also be a massive priority, as he was the best defender in La Liga last term.
Villarreal: Potentially a Striker, Certainly a Central Midfielder
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Villarreal's horrific tail-off at the end of last season is the shortcoming to improve upon this coming year, and strides have already been made in that regard.
Highly rated forward Luciano Vietto has departed, as has Ikechukwu Uche and the on-loan Denis Cheryshev, with Leo Baptistao, Samu Castillejo and Samuel hoping to replace them. Even so, they could do with another source of goals if Samuel isn't going to be played as a central attacking threat.
Elsewhere, Villarreal could do with another central midfielder to offer depth to Bruno and Manu Trigueros, with Tomas Pina not of the required level and Jon dos Santos usually featuring more from the right side of the midfield quartet.
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