Barcelona Transfer News: Leading Targets for Luis Enrique in Latest Rumours

Despite the transfer sanctions currently in place preventing Barcelona from adding new players to their squad for the start of next season, the Spanish champions could have a new signing in situ for the campaign in the form of Denis Suarez.

That’s according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who writes that Sevilla, who agreed to a two-year loan deal for the player last summer, could cut the agreement short, potentially allowing him to return to the Camp Nou.

But as noted in the piece, it’s not quite cut and dried yet:

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He already has experience in the Primera Division and would definitely get game time before January, when Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan can begin to play. However, the brakes were initially put on because FIFA advised he could not be called back. 

But things have changed. The first operation could not be completed because Barça wanted to pay Sevilla to break the loan, which FIFA would have treated as a normal transfer. Now, it is Sevilla who will return the player after one year of his loan deal, which is supposed to continue for a second year.

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Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Suarez, a 21-year-old midfielder, joined Sevilla last summer as part of the deal that brought Ivan Rakitic to Barcelona. And despite notching six goals and four assists in 2014-15 for the Andalusians, per WhoScored.com, the former Manchester City star was unable to nail down a regular first-team spot.

Here’s a look at why there is a lot excitement when it comes to the midfielder:

Suarez is a player who certainly ticks all the boxes when it comes to the Barca prototype; he’s a clever manipulator of the ball, loves roaming between the lines and can pick an incisive pass. Up until January, he could definitely be a useful option for the Blaugrana, if not a regular starter.

But to realise his full potential, Suarez needs a spell out on loan where he is playing regular football. Sevilla, who won the Europa League last season, would have been a brilliant experience for him; now he needs to take the next step in his career, and he’s only going to improve further by getting minutes under his belt.

Pedro Attracting Interest from Chelsea

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Chelsea are the latest club to be linked with a move for Barcelona winger Pedro, as doubts continue to linger about the player’s long-term future with the Catalan giants.

According to Fernando Baquero of Sport, the Blues are keeping close tabs on the Spanish international who has been shunted down the pecking order at the Camp Nou ever since the arrival of Luis Suarez last summer. Nonetheless, Pedro did pen a new deal with the club recently, and the piece claims the player has already rejected offers from Arsenal and Liverpool.

David Ramos/Getty Images

It seems as though Barcelona are keen to get Pedro off their books too, with reports in Mundo Deportivo claiming the buyout clause in the 27-year-old’s contract has been reduced, per barcastuff:

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The buyout fee of Barcelona winger Pedro (27) has been lowered from 150M to 30M. [mundo deportivo]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) July 10, 2015"

For a player as talented as Pedro to be sitting on the bench is a major shame. At his best, he provided a raw, direct edge to the Barcelona attack, dazzling opponents with some scintillating skills and chipping in with a fair share of goals, too.

Here’s a look at some of his best moments in the Blaugrana colours:

The signing of Arda Turan will do little to help Pedro’s cause. Previously, if any of the attacking trio of Suarez, Lionel Messi or Neymar were to get injured, the World Cup winner would most likely be the first player to come in. But the Turkish international has added even more competition to one of the most talented attacks around.

Nonetheless, Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe thinks Pedro would be a brilliant signing:

At Chelsea, he’d certainly add something different to what is already an excellent attack. But with the likes of Willian and Eden Hazard currently stationed out on the flanks, Pedro certainly wouldn’t be guaranteed a starting spot by any means.

A fresh start is what the player needs. Having fallen out of favour at the Camp Nou, it’s understandable that Pedro's reputation has plummeted a little. But if the Blues could get him in and playing regularly, the Barca star would be a classy addition.