Calling True or False on 4 Recent Barcelona Transfer Rumours

Barcelona are still in the market for players during this summer window, as long as they are prepared to wait until January to make their debuts.

Things are likely to change playerwise after the presidential elections, and there could be some movement in or out of the club after that point.

With two trophies available to them before the end of September, Luis Enrique will surely want to have any transfer business settled in good time so as not to disrupt the equilibrium in the squad.

Let's take a look at four possible transfers...

Paul Pogba to Barcelona: True

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No matter who becomes president of Barcelona, they will attempt to sign Paul Pogba.

It's one of the worst-kept secrets in football. Barcelona want to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus.

The powerfully built midfield maestro is on the shopping list of all of the club's presidential candidates, with Joan Laporta going as far as telling BBC Sport: "There is a player we like very much—Paul Pogba. We know the agent of the player—that is key in this operation. We will have to negotiate with the agent and Juve."

With Ardan Turan already secured from Atletico Madrid but not able to play until January, a move for Pogba at this stage makes little sense.

And securing his services now but leaving him on loan at Juve until the start of the 2016/17 campaign is, according to Mundo Deportivo via Football Espana, Luis Enrique's wish.

His acquisition will beef up the midfield and give the Catalans an entirely different outlook, and despite his huge price tag—thought to be in the region of €100 million—it would be a huge coup for Barca to take him from under the noses of their rivals.

Marc Bartra to Napoli: False

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It's highly unlikely that Napoli will secure Marc Bartra's services.

Marc Bartra, like Martin Montoya, is a young Barcelona defender who hasn't really been offered an appropriate amount of match time in his career to this point.

Unlike Montoya, however, he will not be jumping the Barca ship just yet.

Sky Sport Italia (h/t Forza Italian Football) have noted that Napoli are preparing a bid of around €13 million to take the player, but they'll be wasting their time.

Per Sport, via SW Lim of Goal, Bartra himself noted: "I was thinking calmly about leaving a Barca team who had always treated me so well. The offers that arrived made me consider my future, but with a coach like Luis Enrique you know that everything can change in a year, so I am going to give everything."

After making such an unequivocal statement, he's hardly likely to do an about-turn. At least not in this window.

Pedro Rodriguez to Chelsea: True

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Pedro won't turn down Chelsea's continued advances.

Pedro Rodriguez can consider himself extremely unlucky.

Ever since Neymar's arrival in 2013, the Canary Islander has had to content himself with a bit-part role without actually doing too much wrong.

Such was the Brazilian's transfer spend that it was obvious from a marketing perspective as much as a footballing one that Neymar would have to be played.

That meant Pedro and Alexis Sanchez would need to rotate the one remaining position available in the front three, and once Luis Suarez joined and found his fitness, it was obvious Pedro's role would be marginalised even more. 

Chances to impress were few and far between last season, and unfortunately for the player, these were often not taken.

Sport (h/t Anthony Hay of the Daily Mail) are reporting that Jose Mourinho is willing to offer Pedro a way out, with Chelsea readying a £22 million bid.

As the aforementioned report noted, Barcelona have lowered his release clause from £108 million to around the £22 million mark. This would suggest the club are willing to cash in on a player who has served them well over the past few years.

Gerson to Barcelona: False

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It's unlikely that Barcelona will take up their option on Gerson.

Just over a month ago, Cadena Ser, via AS, were reporting that Barcelona had made a €3 million payment to secure first option on Fluminense's Gerson.

The player's father was quoted as saying: "The Barca board has a lot of faith in my son. I spoke with [Ariedo] Braida about what kind of role he would have within the side. It will be a challenge for him, but one I am sure he can overcome because we have a lot of confidence in Barcelona’s project and my son’s potential."

Since then, however, the Catalans have signed Arda Turan and still retain an interest in Paul Pogba.

Any interest in Gerson could only be as a squad player, and indeed Mundo Deportivo, via Forza Italian Football, note that both Juventus and Atletico Madrid are in for a player to whom, it would appear, they could offer more minutes.

Barca have enough squad players of their own presently, so a move for the youngster would give Luis Enrique more headaches than necessary.