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5 players Barcelona should sign to replace Neymar

By David Gate

BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 06: Neymar of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during of the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou stadium on May 6, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 06: Neymar of FC Barcelona celebrates after scoring his team's opening goal during of the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Camp Nou stadium on May 6, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /
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Alli Barcelona
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on April 30, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

5 players to replace Neymar: Dele Alli

The recent rumors around a Barcelona move for Dele Alli are now beginning to make more sense. This seemed like a long shot last week but if Barcelona had wind of the PSG bid perhaps they were using the media to soften up a few of their main targets.

The price tag around Alli has been prohibitive to a move. The CIES football observatory report has given Alli a valuation of £137 million; second only to Neymar himself. Money is no longer an issue. The only questions would be the willingness of Spurs and Alli himself.

Out of all the players on the list he is the least like Neymar. He is not a prolific dribbler or goalscorer in the same vein as the Brazilian. However the all round dynamism that offers would inject serious energy to a slowing Barcelona midfield.

Last season’s midfield three for Barca were Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta. None of those three offer pace or the box-to-bow athleticism that Alli offers. One of the key weaknesses in the current Barcelona side is the lack of youth. Neymar and Umtiti were the only starting players on the front side of their primes.

Real Madrid gave their side a huge boost in during the season when Casemiro and Asensio came into the picture. It gave fantastic balance to Real in the second half of the season. Enough so they can afford to loan out James Rodriguez to Bayern Munich for two years.

Next: PSG willing to meet Neymar's release clause

Dele Alli would bring that youth and vitality. His attitude is excellent and has the buoyant personality to lighten the mood on a few years of bleak dressing room tension at the Nou Camp.

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