Calling True or False on 3 Recent Barcelona Transfer Rumours
Despite having a purported "transfer ban" during the 2015 calendar year, Barcelona have bought and sold at will. Though an awkward punishment when handed down, manager Luis Enrique has incurred occasional selection crises, but his wait is nearly over.
Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal are prepared to enter Barca's first team, and the upcoming transfer window provides an opportunity for immediate replacements. It also makes for renewed transfer rumours—some sane, some insane and some in-between.
With 2016 approaching, Barcelona's would-be plans are emerging.
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It's never wise to believe anything concerning transfers (really ever, but especially) preceding the January window. Therefore, we will proceed to call true or false on the most intriguing speculation Catalonia's footballing giants.
Ander Herrera from Manchester United
The Daily Star's Jeremy Cross has reported Ander Herrera is "disillusioned at Manchester United" under the Louis van Gaal regime.
Herrera has played sparingly this season (starting six games, coming on thrice), and United's summer inclusions, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, have eaten many of the available minutes in Van Gaal's setup.
Following Cross' report, Metro.co.uk's Marc Brus, as taken from Spanish publication Don Balon, published the 26-year-old central midfielder entered Barcelona's 2016 radar.
Bought for £29 million from Athletic Bilbao last summer, Herrera's United adventure has largely frustrated. A fan-favourite and an undoubtedly cultured footballer, his inability to capture a position in Van Gaal's starting XI leaves an opening for a return to Spain.
Barcelona need a quality central midfielder as a potential replacement for the aging Andres Iniesta, so if Manchester United are willing to part with Herrera—and his lack of matches suggest they might be—a positive deal for all involved should be struck.
Verdict: Probable, if not true; the move appears beneficial for everyone.
Advancing into Barca's prospective transfer list, we find more perplexing rumours being published.
Spanish newspaper Sport (h/t Mirror Sport's Aaron Flanagan) claimed both Real Madrid and Barcelona where monitoring Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho.
The report read: "The Reds are believed to have no intention of selling their star man, but they could be inundated with bids, likely at the end of the current campaign." Not exactly a resounding sentiment, so perhaps this particular fishing expedition is more for bait than truth?
It is not completely outlandish, however, that the world's two foremost clubs not named Manchester United or Bayern Munich would have a passing interest in Coutinho—but the same could be argued for every team of consequence in Europe.
Jurgen Klopp has only just arrived in Merseyside and his project desires a creative-attacking midfielder to pull strings. Coutinho fits the mould. Were Madrid or Barcelona to offer a substantial figure, the German obtaining copious funds would certainly help his rebuilding process—but at what setback?
Thinking of Spain: Barcelona's attacking trio of Luis Suarez, Neymar and Messi require supplementation, but prying the 23-year-old Red seems unlikely, especially considering the summer's Raheem Sterling saga.
Verdict: Vaguely plausible, if not false; any move is unlikely before 2017.
Devolving further into the rumour mill, we find a story that won't die—like an apocalyptic roach—Lionel Messi to Manchester City.
Shaun Custis and Martin Lipton of the Sun, wrote last week the Argentina forward "is open to a move to Manchester City," where he would receive a frankly ludicrous £800,000 per week.
Moreover, the Citizens recently sold shares to a Chinese conglomerate for £265 million, as documented by Manchester Evening News' James Robson, leading to speculation of increased Messi funds.
The world's best player and possibly the world's richest club‚ the link will persist until one of the two is no longer factual.
Verdict: Extremely unlikely, if not false; yet frustratingly inescapable.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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