Barcelona are set to lose winger Ousmane Dembele, but his sale could allow Xavi to further reinforce his squad in the transfer market.
Dembele is set to head to Paris Saint-Germain, with Barcelona set to receive just half of the 50m (£43m) fee the French club will pay for the winger.
Xavi has now admitted that he would like a new natural right-back as a priority to help replace the 26-year-old, rather than another winger.
“I still think that we have to reinforce ourselves as well,” he stated.
“I can’t give names, but yes, we must give it a spin to reinforce ourselves. Koundé, Araújo and Sergi Roberto can play, but we need a more specific right-back.”
Who could Barcelona target at right-back?
The main name being considered by Barcelona now appears to be Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo spent the second half of last season on loan at Bayern Munich, and does not appear to be in Pep Guardiola’s plans.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Barcelona are considering Cancelo as a priority, and could use the Dembele money to bid for him.
The 29-year-old could be the ideal attacking right back to overlap with Brazil winger Raphinha, who can cut inside onto his left foot.
Signing a right-back like Cancelo may negate the need for a new winger, with the Portugal international also able to play further up the pitch, and it now seems that Xavi will use a four-midfielder system, with Pedri potentially starting on the left and tucking inside when in possession.
Winger Abde Ezzalzouli started as Barcelona beat AC Milan in a friendly last night, and has been linked with Real Betis. Xavi may now elect to keep him and sign a right back in order to replace Dembele’s output from wide areas, and this could minimise the on-pitch deficit they might feel from his departure.