5 midfielders Barcelona can target instead of Paul Pogba

#1 Thiago Alcantara (Bayern Munich)

Thiago (right) would be a welcome returnee for Cules

La Masia darling, it is his signing above others that could make Cules become enamoured with the Bartomeu-led board. A run of injuries has not allowed the Brazilian-born Spanish international to show what he is capable of in the colours of Bayern Munich.

However, if Barcelona can get an agreement with the Bavarians, the team will be back getting a genuine world-class talent and a natural heir to Xavi’s throne.

Blessed with incredible balance which helps him to skip into space and past a marker, Thiago is also capable of playing the long searching balls either in the air on the ground that are the hallmark of all the world’s best registas.

His ability to retain possession under pressure and dribble past opponents into space in order to create chances for his teammates would be of great benefit for the Catalan side. With him in the team, Philippe Coutinho would be able to play further forward and combine effectively with Messi and other forwards.

Like Pogba, the son of former Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho has the tactical and positional discipline plus ability to dictate the tempo of a match and could serve Barcelona very well especially in the big games against fellow top teams.

He could cost a princely sum but for the emotional value as well as footballing qualities, he would be well worth it.