Transfer rumors: Barcelona pursuing Angel Di Maria

To combat a lackluster 2016-17 season, FC Barcelona are reportedly pursuing PSG star Angel Di Maria.

Barcelona are reportedly pursuing a transfer with former Real Madrid and current PSG star Angel Di Maria. The transfer would give Lionel Messi a chance to return to a more attacking position, as adding his Argentinian teammate would allow Messi freedom with the ball. As of late, with Neymar and Luis Suarez being the primary attacking forces, Messi has been forced to play close to the midfield.

This transfer report comes as a bit of a surprise due to the nature of Barcelona’s lineup. The uncomfortable fact is that Arda Turan hasn’t broken into the starting lineup for Barcelona. New manager Ernesto Valverde is looking to make a splash in his first season at the helm. A transfer window splash like Angel Di Maria would settle early nerves for Valverde.

Should Di Maria make his way to the Camp Nou, who he replaces in the first team lineup remains a question. Because Turan hasn’t made an impact in the first team he’ll likely replace either Ivan Rakitić or an aging Andrés Iniesta. Both Rakitić and Iniesta are creative forces in the Barcelona lineup. They each tend to play more of a box to box style of midfield play. Di Maria tends to scurry along the wings and into the box when necessary in Paris. The increased attacking tendency of Di Maria would be a welcomed change for a side that was didn’t win La Liga or the Champions League in 2016-17. A creative spark could be the change they need to catch up to Real Madrid, although many question the defensive core of the former La Liga champions.

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It appears Valverde is vying to bolster an attack that was already vaunted one of the best in the world. Adding Di Maria to a front three of Messi, Neymar, and Suarez would certainly send shock waves throughout European soccer.