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Barcelona have undergone a number of changes in their playing style in recent years with Johan Cruyff's philosophy taking a backseat in a quest for success. However, Ernesto Valverde seems to have reinstilled the best aspects of Cruyff's style at the Camp Nou.
The Catalan club now plays in a manner quite opposite to Luis Enrique's approach. Possession football is back while Valverde also demands quick transitions from defence to attack.
While this is just the start for the Basque manager, there are positions he could strengthen to get the best out of his team. We look at five Premier League players he could sign to improve this team.
Also read: 5 major differences between Valverde and Enrique's tactics at Barcelona
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#1 Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)
Barcelona's entire summer was a transfer saga that involved the pursuit of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho. They never got their man but many questioned whether he was the right man to take the La Liga club to the next level.
tenham Hotspur's Christian Eriksen would have actually been a better bet. Why the Danish playmaker is so vastly underrated in England and abroad remains a mystery. The 25-year-old created more chances than anyone in the Premier League last season - 112 chances compared to Kevin De Bruyne's 103 and Mesut Ozil's 100.
Harry Kane has Eriksen to thank for his Golden Boot as he converted six passes from the Danish international to goals. But that's not all he's adept at.
His pass-and-move style of play is ideal for a team like Barcelona. Having modeled his game on Andres Iniesta, Eriksen's silent demeanour and perfect timing allows him to slip between the lines to receive the ball and make the killer-pass (even if it isn't the assist).
The only thing that would stand in Barcelona's way is Spurs chairman Daniel Levy who is arguably the toughest negotiator on the transfer market.
#2 Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)
Barcelona have never really replaced Dani Alves since his departure prior to last season. The club have played the likes of Sergi Roberto, Aleix Vidal and, most recently, Nelson Semedo (who was acquired this summer) in the right-back role.
While Jordi Alba continues to help create opportunities on the left flank, the same cannot be said about the right. Peak Alves was the best in his position in the world and Barcelona's right flank was one of the toughest to defend with Lionel Messi also drifting in from the right.
But with Messi back in the false nine role, most of Barcelona's attacks are focused down the middle followed by the left. Only 10% of attacks on goal have come from the right side this season even though the majority of the play is on the right.
While Semedo is an adept passer and dribbler of the ball, Hector Bellerin is a better bet on the right flank. The Arsenal full-back has struggled as a wing-back but he is the perfect right-back when Arsenal play a back-four.
His runs down the flank help stretch the defence and he is no stranger to cutting in when midfielders go wide to provide balance in attack. Additionally, Semedo does not cross the ball as much as Bellerin (be it aerially or along the ground).
The Catalan-born Spain international has been linked in the past two windows and it may be just a matter of time before the 22-year-old returns to the club where he spent eight years before moving to England.
#3 Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur)
If Barcelona wanted a capable shot stopper between the sticks at the Camp Nou, then they needn't look further than Hugo Lloris as the ideal goalkeeper. The France international has put in consistent performances at Tottenham Hotspur since his move to the Premier Leauge in 2012 and is often overlooked when the top goalkeepers in the world are discussed.
What sets Lloris apart from a number of goalkeepers is actually what he does with his feet. Most defenders are reluctant to pass the ball back to their goalkeepers when under pressure but Spurs centre-backs Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen have no problems considering him as the 11th outfield player.
His ability on the ball under pressure would serve Barcelona well in keeping possession and circulating the ball. Lloris' distribution has been key to Pochettino's Spurs starting attacks from the back and he even had a couple of assists last season.
While Lloris is an exceptional shot stopper, he is also equally good when coming off his line. This will aid Barcelona when they play a high line while pressing their opponents in the attacking half.
#4 Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)
Another transfer saga in the summer of 2017 involved Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk who was linked with a host of Premier League clubs, eventually staying put at Southampton who understandably played hardball in the transfer market.
But why are so many clubs after the 6,4" centre-back? Well, what's not to like? Terrific in the air, reads the game well to make interceptions and rarely loses his focus on the pitch (even if he has lost it off the pitch in the past year due to links to top clubs).
Barcelona would do well to target him, though. Firstly, he is very good on the ball, averaging a passing accuracy in the high 80s. Despite his tall stature, Van Dijk can bring the ball out of defence and advance it forward.
Van Dijk's passing range is also quite good for a centre-back. He's not just a traditional big man at the back to get past but has the intelligence to play passes to find teammates even at the other end of the pitch.
For a team like Barcelona that now thrives on possession, Van Dijk is the ideal candidate. He's 26 and still has a few years to really hit his peak. Barcelona are also weak at defending set pieces and his presence would vastly improve their defence.
Get him in early (Saints could lower the price if he didn't go to an immediate Premier League rival) to train him the Barcelona way with Gerard Pique mentoring him and the club would have one of the best centre-backs in the world on their books in a couple of years.
#5 Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
With Messi in a false nine role, Luis Suarez has been switched to the left - not exactly his ideal position and his recent struggles in that position have shown Barcelona need a specialist wide forward rather than a mobile no.9 out on the left.
While the right flank will see competition between Ousmane Dembele and Gerard Deulofeu, the left flank could do with a pace outlet to combine with Jordi Alba.
Enter Leroy Sane. Aged only 21, Sane already looks like a seasoned campaigner in a Manchester City shirt, causing trouble out on the left with his pace, trickery and exceptional dribbling. And he rarely wastes goal scoring opportunities.
What sets him apart is not only his speed but his sudden deceleration with the ball at his feet - enough to throw defenders off balance for that half-second required to create space for himself to either cut in or make a vital pass. His ability to make quiet runs and slip past the offside line unnoticed is also a key attribute.
He has already shown how effective he can be on the left playing alongside Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva. Imagine how much more lethal he would be when he plays teams whose primary focus is stopping Messi?
