Barcelona Eye Three Star Targets as Pedri Injury Forces Emergency Transfer Hunt
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick may look to promote a promising academy talent as he seeks to fill the void left by injured midfielder Pedri, according to recent reports.
Pedri has emerged as one of the globe's premier midfield talents under Flick's guidance, but the Catalan giants must now forge ahead without their gifted playmaker after he suffered an injury that proved more severe than originally anticipated.
With Pedri set to miss approximately six weeks of action, Flick might need to explore innovative lineup choices, starting with Sunday's clash against Elche.
Per Mundo Deportivo, Marc Casadó is expected to receive the starting opportunity versus Elche, having practiced alongside Netherlands international Frenkie de Jong in Barcelona's central midfield pairing.
The 22-year-old Casadó emerged as one of the standout performers during Flick's inaugural campaign in Catalonia, impressing as De Jong's replacement before the Dutchman's return to full fitness later in the season reduced Casadó's playing time.
Given the packed fixture schedule during Pedri's absence, Flick is evaluating numerous alternatives as he aims to rotate his roster and maintain player fitness levels.
Defender Eric García, who has experienced a revival in his defensive role as Pau Cubarsí's regular partner, might also feature in midfield duties, while youth prospect Tommy Marqués has been participating in first-team training sessions. Fabrizio Romano reports that Premier League sides are already monitoring the 19-year-old talent.
Flick: Barcelona 'Surprised' by Pedri's Injury
Pedri will miss Sunday's encounter with Elche due to suspension regardless, having received a red card in the closing moments of Barcelona's El Clásico loss to Real Madrid, meaning Flick was already preparing for at least one match without his influential midfielder.
What appeared to be minor fatigue following the final whistle developed into a more concerning issue, with subsequent medical examinations revealing Pedro would require significantly more recovery time than expected.
"The injury caught us off guard," Flick admitted. "Following the Real Madrid match, he only experienced tiredness. The injury was then detected.
"We must deal with this situation. We're without one of our crucial players. He provides us with balance and excellent ball retention. We need to adapt."
Villarreal's victory over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday pushed Barcelona down to third place in the La Liga table ahead of their match against Elche. A tie would allow Flick's team to return to second position, while a victory would keep them within five points of table-toppers Madrid.