Barca define their main objective in order to strengthen the team

Barcelona have defined their main objective in order to strengthen the team, either in winter or in summer, and that is a midfielder.

That's despite the fact that at this moment Ernesto Valverde has ten in the squad.

There are three names that have been in the frame for some time: Rabiot, De Jong and Pogba, and in all three cases, the Blaugrana have tried to sign them.

The chances of signing any one of them are still on the table, but the problem for Barcelona is that there will be enormous competition from elsewhere, meaning an expensive auction at some point.

Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Juventus, Manchester United... all want to be kept abreast of developments.

The first obstacle will be their clubs of origin.

PSG are working like crazy to renew Rabiot, but the player, aware of the interest, has turned a deaf ear to the calls of his club.

Wherever he goes he knows that a good signing-on bonus is waiting for him in addition to his salary, and he's already met with Pep Guardiola.

Rabiot's story is similar to that of De Jong, but here there is an important caveat.

The Dutchman has a contract in force so Barcelona will have to sit down to negotiate with Ajax.

Marc Overmars has been able to retain him this summer, but it will be difficult to do so in the following windows.

His starting price is around 50 million euros but given the interest in him, this figure may go up.

Inter, PSG, Tottenham and City remain on alert.

Finally, there is the Pogba option.

For Barcelona it's very complicated due to the cost of the operation.

The transfer won't be below 100 million euros, plus a multi-million pound contract for the player.

United don't want to sell, but are acutely aware of the strategy that Mino Raiola is mounting around the player.

There is almost an acceptance that they will have no choice but to put him on the market, with PSG and Juve interested.