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Once again, FC Barcelona has been one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market this winter. Los Blaugrana recently shocked the football world when they announced the signing of Ghanaian superstar Kevin Prince Boateng, who joined on loan from Sassuolo in a highly unexpected deal this week.
Shortly after that, the Catalan giants returned to the spotlight - this time, completing a transfer that everyone was looking forward to - shrugging off competition from the likes of Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City to earn the signature of highly talented Ajax midfield prodigy, Frenkie de Jong.
While it is true that the capturing of the Dutch starlet is a brilliant move from the Catalan giants, it should also be remembered that the arrival of the 21-year-old into Barca's midfield comes at a price too, with the squad looking heavily congested in that department.
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After paying a whopping £65 million to lure de Jong to the Nou Camp, it is evident that Barcelona wouldn't want to keep him on the bench. This implies that the club will be forced to shift some of their superstars and limit a few others in order to accommodate their new signing in the team.
Therefore, we take a look at 5 players at the Nou Camp who could be threatened by the arrival of the young midfielder:
#5. Denis Suarez
The situation surrounding the career of Spanish International Denis Suarez at the Nou Camp is clear to many. The versatile midfielder has failed to establish himself in Barcelona's midfield ever since he returned to the Catalan capital during the summer of 2016.
Also See: La Liga News | La Liga Transfer News
While his ill fate began under former manager, Luis Enrique, the situation hasn't changed during Ernesto Valverde's tenure too, with the former Athletic Bilbao boss having given him just 8 appearances since the beginning of the current campaign.
With the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax this winter, things will likely get tougher for Denis Suarez at Barcelona next season and the versatile midfielder could be forced to quit the Catalan capital and switch to the English Premier League where Unai Emery's Arsenal will be keen to grant him an escape route.
#4. Rafinha Alcantara
Another Barcelona player who could be threatened by the imminent arrival of recent signing Frenkie de Jong is Rafinha Alcantara, another midfielder who has also struggled to stake claims for a place in the Barca midfield.
After a loan spell with Serie A giants Inter Milan last term, the Spanish International returned to the Nou Camp during the summer. Although he peaked at a particular stage this season, a long term injury suffered against Atletico Madrid during a recent La Liga game was enough to disrupt his progress for the campaign.
Like other Barcelona midfielders, the Spaniard has found himself in a heavy battle to establish himself at the centre of the park and with Barcelona highly unlikely to ignore Frenkie de Jong after spending so much to sign him, Rafinha could be forced to think about his future in Catalonia.
#3. Ruqui Puig
Barcelona pulled a masterstroke by adding youth, talent and the Barca culture to their squad via the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax this winter. But while that move could be seen as a big boost to the club from various perspectives, it could also produce a negative effect by hindering the development of their own youth products.
The young midfielder, Ruqui Puig is one of the exciting talents emerging from the Barcelona youth system right now. The 19-year-old has proved his incredible abilities and maturity in a couple of games this year and many expect him to develop into one of Barca's midfield maestros in the future.
However, the competition for places at the Nou Camp right now could disturb the steady development of the young playmaker and by introducing Frenkie de Jong into an already congested midfield, the Catalans might be adding the last straw that breaks the camel's back.
#2. Carles Alena
Another exciting young midfielder coming from Barcelona's youth setup, Carles Alena is currently in the transitional phase of his career, and like Puig, he also showed that he could become an influential figure at the Nou Camp with a couple of promising performances in recent weeks.
However, while the La Masia product has enjoyed a fair share of minutes in Ernesto Valverde's team this season, those opportunities could become limited with the potential arrival of Frenkie de Jong, who will switch to the Catalan capital in the summer.
The Dutch youngster has proven himself both at the club and international levels which convinced Barcelona to spend big in luring him to the Nou Camp and the Catalans will be keen to send him into the spotlight immediately he crosses over. This could also force Carles Alena further down the pecking order and disturb his smooth transition into a first team player.
#1. Ivan Rakitic
While it is true that youngsters are most likely to be threatened by the signing of Frenkie de Jong, there is no doubt the arrival of the Dutch prodigy could also influence the fate of some already established superstars in Ernesto Valverde's squad.
Despite being a core member of the Spaniard's team at the Nou Camp, Croatian International, Ivan Rakitic is one of the regulars who could be affected by the potential arrival of the midfielder.
Frenkie de Jong is a player with the Barcelona DNA, and there is no doubt his style of play suits the Blaugrana's system more than that of Raktic. While there is no guarantee that the Dutch youngster will overthrow his Croatian counterpart immediately, it is highly likely that he will take some opportunities off the former Sevilla midfielder at the Nou Camp and overthrowing him is also a possibility in the long run.
