What Does the Future Hold for Munir El Haddadi at Barcelona in 2016-17?

Six weeks still remain in the summer transfer window of 2016, but already Barcelona have made significant alterations to their double-winning squad of last season. 

To strengthen the defence, Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne have arrived from Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively, while Denis Suarez's return from Villarreal adds depth to Luis Enrique's attack.

The haul so far already represents impressive business, but the addition of Suarez in particular—as well as the very real possibility of further attacking reinforcements in the coming weeks—will have ramifications for young forward Munir El Haddadi.

A product of the Barcelona B team, Munir has now spent two seasons on the fringes of the first team, acting as cover across the front line for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Throughout that time there have been flashes of talent and promising bursts from the 20-year-old—a strong performance against Villarreal last November stood out, as did a run of six goals in six appearances from January to March—but his progression hasn't unfolded at the pace that had been anticipated when he made his debut in 2014. 

That perception was heightened by Munir's underwhelming stint late last year when given regular playing time during Messi's injury absence. No one, of course, expected him to replicate the Argentinian's feats, but a return of zero goals and one assist in his opening 11 appearances of the 2015-16 season was below the level required in the Barcelona front line. 

Admittedly, obstacles have stood in Munir's way at the Camp Nou, but the club's summer activity suggests more obstacles are coming. So where does the forward stand ahead of 2016-17?

Here we take a look.  

The MSN Barrier

One of the problems created by Barcelona's ownership of world football's most devastating front three is the way it stunts the development of other members of the squad. 

Just as is the case at Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, Barcelona's trident of Messi, Suarez and Neymar essentially operate under a golden rule: When available, they always play. No questions. 

Such a stance even extends to substitutions: In 2015-16, injuries aside, the members of the MSN were subbed on just three occasions combined. 

There's a strong argument that such a domination of playing time isn't always beneficial—when the score is 4-0 at half-time, for example, there's no need for all three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar to keep playing—but it's the reality Munir faces, and it's unlikely to change while that front three remains intact. 

	2014-15	2015-16
Starts	7	8
Substitute Appearances	3	7
Total Minutes	463	825
Goals	1	3
Assists	1	2
Shots per Game	1.8	1.1
Key Passes per Game	0.4	0.6

In 2015-16, even with the opportunities given to him by Messi's extended lay-off in the season's first half, the young forward's 825 minutes in the league represented less than a quarter of Barcelona's total playing time. 

During the campaign ahead, Munir can expect something similar, and though chances will present themselves during Barcelona's run in the Copa del Rey and possibly the Spanish Super Cup, that won't be enough for a player whose progression will be dependent upon exposure to key games.  

Suarez x2

The addition of Luis Suarez in 2014 effectively completed the major barrier to the first team for Munir. Now, the addition of another Suarez has thrown a few more bricks on top of it. 

After a breakout campaign at Villarreal last season in which he showed the production that's long been expected of him, Denis Suarez has returned to the Camp Nou this summer to bolster competition in attacking areas. 

At El Madrigal, the Galician stood out in a left-sided role in Marcelino's 4-4-2, cutting inside to create chances and link with striker Cedric Bakambu. Back at Barcelona, Suarez is likely to be considered a deputy to Andres Iniesta in the left-sided midfield slot, but he's also very capable of covering for Neymar or Messi in the wide berths of the front three in the event of rotation or injuries. 

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

In those roles, the 22-year-old will be a superior option to Munir with his added pace, drive and aggression. The return to fitness of Rafinha after a long-term knee injury presents another obstacle, given the Brazilian's ability to play a variety of roles in midfield and attack. 

And if he's retained, Arda Turan can perform a similar function, too. 

For Munir, then, opportunities in 2016-17 could be restricted to the centre-forward position rather than spread across the front line as they were last season. And yet there might be an issue there as well. 

Search for 2nd Striker 

There's been an obvious need at Barcelona for a back-up striker for Luis Suarez for some time now.

As a muscular forward, Sandro Ramirez couldn't perform in the role to the level required and has been moved on, while the slippery, technical Munir hasn't yet convinced that he possesses the diverse skill set that's needed in the position. 

Thus, Barcelona's pursuit for a second striker this summer has come as no surprise. The Catalan daily Sport has reported of the club's interest in Sevilla's Kevin Gameiro, Atletico Madrid's Luciano Vietto, Palmeiras' Gabriel Jesus and Antonio Sanabria, formerly of Roma and Sporting Gijon and now of Real Betis. 

Whether Barcelona will manage to sign such a player is difficult to predict—though the club can offer chances to lift trophies, it will be difficult to convince a high-quality forward to join and spend most of the time of the bench—but the intent itself says much. 

After all, if Enrique and the board were confident Munir could function as Suarez's undisputed understudy, such a search for another option wouldn't be unfolding. 

Contract Uncertainty

LLUIS GENE/Getty Images

It was reported by Sport back in May that Barcelona and Munir had "reached an agreement in principle to renew his contract and give him a pay rise." But two months on, that still hasn't been confirmed. 

Late last month, president Josep Maria Bartomeu outlined the club's intention to turn its focus to players whose contracts had two years or fewer left to run, per Marca, and Munir falls in that category. His current deal expires next summer. 

The likelihood is that the forward's contract will be renewed given that doing so would give the club further options and more leverage in the event of a future sale, but the simple fact that Munir's deal has been allowed to run into its final 12 months isn't exactly encouraging for his long-term future. When elite clubs covet young talent, they rarely allow that to happen. 

Thus, though Munir will likely play a bit-part role at the Camp Nou in 2016-17, the presence of new arrivals combined with the continued search for another striker and uncertainty over his contract leaves Munir's longer-term future at the club looking anything but certain.