Barcelona Transfer News: Catalans Must Resist Sergi Samper, Adama Traore Rumours

Barcelona starlets Adama Traore and Sergi Samper continued to be linked with transfers away from the club, and the Catalans have to do everything in their power to ensure the duo stay put for the foreseeable future.

The summer of 2015 hasn't been kind on the two former La Masia stars. Samper, a 20-year-old midfielder, has hardly featured for the senior side during the pre-season—to the fury of fans like La Liga blogger Rafael Hernandez—and Metro's Jason Pettigrove reported that Arsenal are reportedly ready to pounce.

Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez remains adamant that Samper has a future with the Blaugrana, as reported by Sport (h/t talkSPORT), but his lack of playing time during the summer is an ill omen for his future.

Meanwhile, Traore already appears to have one foot out of the door following the relegation of Barcelona B to the third tier of Spanish football, and Stoke City manager Mark Hughes confirmed on Friday his club are involved in talks with the young winger, per the Potters' official Twitter account:

Both players' situations are similar: For all of their potential, their paths to the senior squad and spots in the starting XI are blocked by accomplished, world-class players. Sergio Busquets won't be giving up his spot to Samper anytime soon―Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are untouchable in the forward slots.

Frankly, Barcelona don't know what to do with the duo, but selling them should not be an option—not while the club are under a transfer embargo and not at a time when the club's vaunted youth academy, La Masia, has hit a rough patch.

Stars like Bobby Adekanye and Ayoub Abou have already left the academy in the wake of the transfer ban, which, as the Guardian's Ed Aarons explained, was a direct result of the club's illegal youth transfers. Juvenil A, the main youth squad of the club, did nothing of note in the 2014-15 UEFA Youth League, a competition they managed to win a year earlier.

Some talent is still available―Lee Seung-woo comes to mind―but compared to the last decade, the cupboard looks bare. And the top stars who have emerged in the past few years haven't set the world alight for the senior squad. Fans are seemingly still waiting for Gerard Deulofeu to break out, even if he's no longer at the club.

The latest crop of players―Samper, Traore, Munir El Haddadi, Alen Halilovic and others―have had varying degrees of success, but none of them figures to be a major part of manager Luis Enrique's plans anytime soon. This La Masia blogger is already thinking about the 2016-17 campaign for Samper:

While Traore seems to be the most likely to leave the club, Samper's future is hardly secure, either. He has been a part of Barcelona's youth setup since the age of six and bleeds blue and red, but young, talented players can take a lack of chances for only so long. Fans probably haven't forgotten what happened to Thiago Alcantara, as Goal.com's Ben Hayward noted.

The Catalans have to ask themselves what kind of message they are sending the world by not giving these youngsters a chance in the pre-season or, even worse, selling them before they ever received a fair shake.

How will you convince the next generation of star youngsters to join the famed La Masia when these kids and their parents have watched the club treat their predecessors like that?

Yes, the Blaugrana rank among the biggest and wealthiest clubs in the world, and they should splash the cash to bring top, established talent to the Camp Nou in order to compete. But youth and player development have always been the core of Barcelona's identity, and right now, the Champions League titleholders are making it clear that it's no longer the case.

La Masia can't afford to lose its reputation as the top destination for young talent, and by getting rid of the current crop of youngsters, that's slowly starting to happen. Under former manager Pep Guardiola, the team were wildly successful, but more importantly, Barcelona were set for the future as well, thanks to the huge array of talent battling its way up the hierarchy.

That's the club's identity and the foundation of their success. And it's of vital importance that things stay that way.

Send Samper and Traore out on loan, with the promise of a fair chance next season, or allow them to stay at the club and give them their minutes in cup ties or against lesser opposition in La Liga. Let them prove their worth and show the world La Masia is alive and kicking. Because if Barcelona don't, the next generation of world-class players might look elsewhere for their education.

Follow @ReverschPass.