All glamour & Galacticos - but Barcelona and Real Madrid's signings could leave them defenceless next season

The biggest names in football have been linked to Barcelona and Real Madrid this summer, and many have arrived.

Chile forward Alexis Sanchez was unveiled at the Catalan club on Monday, while Jose Mourinho's side are currently on tour with a handful of new recruits, including left-back Fabio Coentrao (who is being used in a more advanced role in the United States), winger Jose Callejon, and midfielders Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop. On top of all that, Madrid still hope to bring in a striker, with Neymar, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Emmanuel Adebayor all mentioned, while Barca turn their attentions to Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.


But what about the defenders?

Barca's backline was notoriously difficult to breach last season as the Catalans conceded just 21 goals in their 38 league games. Nevertheless, coach Pep Guardiola was forced to shuffle his squad in the absence of defensive leader and lynchpin Carles Puyol. Barcelona lost five games in total last season and Puyol was absent in all of those. His presence lifts the players around him and brings the best out of central defensive partner Gerard Pique. Puyol's troublesome knee injury saw him restricted to just seven games after Christmas - a total of just 377 minutes.

Arsenal negotiating sale of Cesc - Guardiola

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed Arsenal have agreed to negotiate over the sale of Cesc Fabregas.

The Catalans have been hunting the Spain international midfielder for a number of years, having failed to land Fabregas last summer.

Arsenal were steadfast in the face of repeated efforts from Barca last summer and have maintained a similar stance this year.

Arsene Wenger has spoken of his confidence that Fabregas will stay at Emirates Stadium and Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood said on Tuesday that nothing had changed with regard to their captain.

However, Guardiola has countered those claims by stating the two clubs are talking about a transfer.

"This year Arsenal has agreed to negotiate and we are working on it," Guardiola said. "Barcelona has made an offer, Arsenal another and we have time until August 31. We will try to reach an agreement.

"There is a sum of money in the strongbox set aside for the signing. If it does not work out, it will be left in place for something else.

"Cesc will make us better, we're interested, but if it's not to be then maybe next year and we use the money for something else."

Source: www.msn.com