At the end of last season Barcelona were confident that they would keep Lionel Messi. In the middle of this season they said they were hopeful of signing Erling Haaland. And as this campaign entered the home straight, a few weeks back, they were talking up their chances of signing Robert Lewandowski.
That’s the fantasy.
The reality is that the big gains this summer could end up being re-signing Ousmane Dembele, presenting a fully-fit Ansu Fati in preseason, and if Chelsea allow it, giving Cesar Azpilicueta the job of shoring up their defence.