How to Fix #Barca?

There is no doubt that Barcelona have produced one of the greatest club sides ever to grace Spanish and European football. Out of that side, the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Serge Busquets, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Carlos Puyol have gone on to win the World Cup and European Championships (twice), while Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the best player in the world right now with only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and his own teammate, Neymar challenging him.

They've thrilled us en route to La Liga and European success year in year out but like all great sides, they all decline and it is evident that this Barcelona side is very much set for a period of transition in anticipation of another great era perhaps.

Carlos Puyol will hang up his Barcelona jersey to head to Qatar, New York or Wellington in the summer while Xavi is also set to head to newer pastures in the autumn of his career. Victor Valdes has already announced his departure too.

On the bright side, the likes of Messi, Alexis, Fabregas, Busquets, Neymar should be around for a while yet, and Barcelona can recall the likes of Gerard Deulofeu from Everton, Rafinha from Celta Vigo to boost its already stupendous attacking abilities.

It really means that the back has to be sorted out - this has been a problem for Barca this season particularly in Puyol's absence.

1. A new centre back

Inigo Martinez - Barca's next centre back legend?

Barcelona will need a new centre back to replace Carlos Puyol and possibly Gerard Pique whose place at the club is also under a cloud of uncertainty. Real Sociedad's Inigo Martinez could be a potential transfer target for Barca - he is young at 23 so Barcelona could look at building a defence around him. Lille's Danish international Nicholas Kjaer and PSG's Brazilian captain, Thiago Silva could possibly be considered although the latter has signed a contract to stay at PSG until 2016. Could a 30-year-old Dani Alves be shifted to central defence to allow Martin Montoya to start? Alex Song can also play in central defence and that might very well be his best chance of starting in the Barca team.  

Whatever the case, there will be a lot of rebuilding at the back over the summer by Martino or whoever coaches Barcelona going forward.

2. Xavi's replacement

I don't believe Barcelona will shopping too hard here as they probably have identified Xavi's heir within the current squad - ideally it would be someone who has been through the Barcelona school of football. Busquets could push forward but I think Cesc Fabregas is the answer and will become the heart of Barcelona's defence - he has already proven what he can do at Arsenal as their heart for so many years and has somewhat bided his time since his move from north London. Fabregas is still quite young so Barcelona should be alright here for some time.

3. A new goalkeeper

As I write this, Marc-Andre ter Stegen has just been signed by Barcelona for a bargain 12 million euros (bargain in my opinion). The current Borussia Moenchengladbach keeper has been impressive this season and at 22 years of age has lots of time to develop and be a world class shot stopper in the Valdes mould. The only word of caution here is that the pressure that will be placed on ter Stegen right from his first game - his fellow German Robert Enke found life at the Camp Nou really hard and eventually had to leave - he succumbed to depression and suicide many years later.