Luis Enrique's request to Barça president Bartomeu
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has made only one request for the remainder of this summer to club president Josep Maria Bartomeu: the squad must be ready, and completed, before August 14.
That date represents Barça's opening competitive game of the 2016/17 season against Sevilla in the first-leg of the Supercopa de Espana, and Enrique wants to start off on the right foot this time around - not like last year when the Blaugrana lost the title to Athletic Club in such an unexpected manner.
Today, the team still has a lot of areas to be fixed, perhaps too many areas. In fact, the arrival of Andre Gomes means that the first-team now has a total of 27 players, including Cristian Tello and Martin Montoya as they both continue to seek an exit from the Camp Nou.
If a new forward is also incorporated into the squad then there would have to be a minimum of three casualties. Tello and Montoya would be two of them - Douglas Pereira is most likely to join that list too - but it's not unreasonable to contemplate losing Sergi Samper on loan, especially considering the current 'overbooking' problem in the midfield positions.
Enrique, therefore, wants to have all these issues resolved before the Supercopa de Espana tie, but the Asturian is also aware that he has a hot potato situation with his goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The two have shared responsibilities for the past two seasons, with Bravo taking league duties and Ter Stegen doing likewise in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, but the latter has already stated his discontent at the current situation and wants to be the club's firm no.1 choice this coming season and beyond.
For the most, the last piece of the puzzle is a striker and there's no doubt that it'll be the hardest acquisition of the summer for the Catalan club.
Now, it remains to be seen whether Bartomeu will be able to meet Enrique's request in the weeks ahead. And after Adriano Correia's departure to Besiktas, the names that need to be disposed of are sure to continue piling up as the new season comes into view.
