Barcelona are already making plans to replace Luis Suarez after Ronald Koeman deemed the prolific striker surpulus to requirements.
The 33-year-old is one of a number of senior players whose future under the new regime looks uncertain. Suarez joined Barcelona six years ago from Liverpool and has cemented his reputation as one of world football’s most prolific forwards.
Suarez is now the club’s third highest goalscorer of all-time but has been told to find a new club by Quique Setien’s replacement who his planning a significant overhaul of the squad.
According to Sport, discussions between Koeman and Barcelona’s new sporting director Roman Planes, who replaced the outgoing Eric Abidal last week, over Suarez’s successor have already taken place.
Celta Vigo forward Maxi Gomez, Suarez’s Uruguay international team-mate, is said to be one of the players identified, while Koeman’s new assistant Henrik Larsson has championed Lyon’s Moussa Dembele.
The former Fulham forward has been courted by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in the past and impressed Larsson during his impressive spell at the Swede’s former club Celtic.
Dembele scored twice in Lyon’s recent Champions League quarter-final victory over Manchester City, after which the French club’s sporting director Juninho admitted it would be hard to resist offers for his best players this summer.
Barcelona’s treatment of Suarez, meanwhile, is said to have angered Lionel Messi and has contributed to his decision to seek a transfer of his own.
Suarez responded last week to the news he was no longer wanted, saying: ‘There is talk of some names that the president gave, of changes that can be made, but nobody told me that they want to do without me.
‘I also want the best for the club and my plan today is to continue, but if the club thinks that I am expendable, I have no problem speaking with those who decide.
‘[I want to stay], as long as I am counted on, I want to continue contributing as much as I can. I have felt the support of the fans since I arrived and that also gives me a lot of strength to continue.’
