5 Things for Barcelona Fans to Look Forward to in 2016/17 Liga Season

Once Sunday's Copa del Rey final is done and dusted, Barcelona fans can pack up and head off on their summer holidays.

Many of them won't want to watch the UEFA Champions League final given their two main domestic rivals, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, are facing off against each other in Milan on May 28.

Instead, they'll be on their sun loungers, dreaming of the challenges ahead next year. Here are five things for them to look forward to.

5. A New Centre-Back

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For a long time, Barcelona have relied on Javier Mascherano and Gerard Pique at the back.

That pairing is sometimes criticised; sometimes it is hailed. But it is always called upon.

Other central defenders have come and gone. Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremy Mathieu and Marc Bartra can try as they might, but they aren't becoming regular starters any time soon.

The hope on the part of the fans is a new player will arrive in the summer and improve the weakest section of Barcelona's team.

Under Luis Enrique it has, admittedly, become a lot stronger, but there is still a feeling Barcelona could prevent more goals.

They are considering moving for Mauricio Lemos of Las Palmas, per Sport, but he looks to be a player for the future given he is only 20.

Many fans will hope Barcelona can become involved in the race for Aymeric Laporte, though prising him away from Athletic Bilbao would be difficult.

4. The Return of the MSN After the Summer Months Apart

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Barcelona's attacking trident is simply sensational to watch. In the first year Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar were together, they scored 122 goals. This season, they have 130 and counting.

They are compelling, thrilling, intelligent and plenty of other positive adjectives too.

So going without their fix of the MSN won't be easy for Barca fans.

Sure, they are all in action. But seeing Neymar at the Olympic Games and Lionel Messi playing in a perennially disappointing Argentina side in the Copa America isn't the same as watching them click for Barcelona.

Luis Suarez, meanwhile, will be relishing his return to international tournament action, but without Messi and Neymar by his side, the Uruguayan has his work cut out for him in the Copa.

Messi, Neymar and Suarez have a great relationship, on and off the pitch, so seeing them rekindle that will be a treat for Blaugrana followers.

Barcelona fans will also hope some time off and the fact he could have a new contract will give Neymar a boost too, with the Brazilian flagging in the second half of this campaign.

3. Clear-Out

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Barcelona's squad needs refreshing, and the wheels for that are already in motion.

According to Sport, the club is set to shuffle four players on.

The paper pegs Marc Bartra, Thomas Vermaelen, Adriano and Sandro Ramirez as likely exits and reports Arda Turan could follow.

And those are only the known plans; there could be other players going too.

Barcelona have arguably the strongest starting lineup in the world, but they have far from the strongest squad.

Losing some of the fluff would create space to pad out the team with quality reserves, although they can be hard to come by.

2. New Crack at the UEFA Champions League

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While La Liga is their bread and butter, the UEFA Champions League is the most glamorous trophy on offer.

Winning it confirms to the world you are the best team on the continent, and every time Barcelona lift it, the five-time winners move closer to Real Madrid's record of 10 European championships.

La Liga may be a fairer reflection of Spanish teams' abilities because there are fewer variables and consistency is rewarded.

In the Champions League, a lucky draw can see a team go a long way. Others may get lumbered with tricky fixtures.

The road to Milan proved too treacherous for Barca, so the road to Cardiff, Wales, it is for the 2017 title.

1. La Masia Injection

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Barcelona fans are extremely keen on seeing their academy products succeed.

They were spoiled when they got to see Pep Guardiola, Barcelona to the core, coach a team filled with players who had come through their youth system.

But lately, there have been problems. Few youngsters are embedding themselves in the side.

Munir El Haddadi has been skirting around the edges, doing well when he gets the chance, but he's been unable to play consistently.

Things have been worse for Marc Bartra, who often finds himself as Luis Enrique's last resort at the back.

But the hope persists that a new player from La Masia can break through. For the time being, a former Barca B player looks like he might finally arrive in the form of Denis Suarez.

Although he has been at Villarreal and Sevilla, as well as spending a few years at Manchester City, he is a player with Barcelona DNA.

According to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, the deal to bring him back to the Camp Nou is done.

Then there is Sergi Samper. The midfielder has the talent to thrive at the top level, and hope remains he may get some more opportunities next season. Likewise with Wilfrid Kaptoum.