Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu is said to have drawn up a five-point plan outlining his vision for the future of the club.
Sport reports that Bartomeu wants to negotiate with FIFA regarding the transfer ban given to the club, sign Lionel Messi to a new contract, appoint a new Coach, make up to seven new signings and let a number of the current players leave.
There is no mention in the report of the possibility of calling elections for the position of President. Bartomeu assumed the role upon the resignation of Sandro Rosell in the wake of the Neymar affair.
Barca are said to be willing to admit they transgressed over the signing of under-18 players if FIFA alters the punishment from a transfer ban to a heavy fine.
The board have acknowledged that a summer of intensive recruitment is needed and it has been suggested that they could ask FIFA to give them 15 days to make signings before the ban is implemented.
Messi’s new contract would make him the highest-paid player in the world and set his buyout clause at €200m.
It would be agreed between all parties that the events of this season are in the past and steps should be taken to prevent similar fall-outs in future negotiations.
The appointment of a Coach is described as finding ‘the new Pep Guardiola.’ The experiment with Tata Martino is described as a failure, not because of his ability as a Coach but because he wasn’t ready for the step into the Camp Nou spotlight.
There are two schools of thought at Barca as to the style of the new Coach – a tactician such as Ernesto Valverde or a motivator, with Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp the example.
Should Barca overturn the transfer ban – or come to an arrangement with FIFA that still allows the club to make signings before the ban is imposed – then there would be four players brought in to be part of the first XI.
Two or three signings would follow to fill out the squad.
Should Messi’s contract be finalised then the team would again be built around him. €100m will be spent on new recruits – two goalkeepers, two centre-backs, a right-back, an attacking midfielder and a striker.
Names suggested include Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, the Gladbach goalkeeper, who is considered a done deal, while his compatriot Marco Reus is the club’s biggest target.
Rafinha and Gerard Deulofeu would be brought back from loan spells at Celta Vigo and Everton respectively, although Deulofeu could yet remain at Goodison Park. Rafinha will definitely return, however.
The final point covers the current squad. Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol have chosen to leave and they will be joined by Jose Pinto, whose contract will not be renewed.
Dani Alves will be sold and offers will be heard for Javier Mascherano, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro and Christian Tello.
Ibrahim Afellay, Isaac Cuenca and Jonathan Dos Santos will all be allowed to find new clubs.
The report concludes by claiming ‘the aim of Bartomeu and the board is to move on from this sad and disastrous season.’
Andoni Zubizarreta’s position as sporting director could also come under scrutiny amid a ‘complete renovation’ of the club.
