As Barcelona prepare plans for the upcoming season, the arrival of Joshua Kimmich has taken prominence as a priority operation.
The objective is indeed difficult to fulfil given the club’s economic situation, but newly-appointed manager Hansi Flick is said to be taking a personal interest in convincing the player to arrive.
The duo have, after all, worked together in the past at both Bayern Munich and the German national team. It is not surprising that the new Barcelona manager thus sees it right to bring in the midfield star.
Deep-seated in midfield
In the event that Kimmich’s transfer to Barcelona should work out, it is beyond doubt that the superstar will play in the defensive midfield.
As part of Flick’s traditional 4-2-3-1 setup, he will thus sit as part of a double-pivot for the club, likely on the left.
The 29-year-old German midfielder has proven to be an able pivot over the years, albeit only when paired alongside a more defensive midfielder. Kimmich is more attacking-minded than the average deep-lying midfielder and thus requires counter-balancing.
With Kimmich’s arrival thus comes the need for another pivot who can complement his style best. Javi Guerra is being spoken of as a possible target, but it remains to be seen if both transfers are possible in a single summer.
Frenkie de Jong sits as another decent option to operate alongside the 29-year-old, while Ilkay Gundogan is also an alternative as Flick could field an all-German double pivot, although there would be some concerns with that pairing.
Pedri is set to operate as the No. 10 in the 4-2-3-1 setup, with Fermin Lopez also an option for that position.
The German dilemma
Kimmich’s arrival will go a long way in solving Flick’s midfield dynamics for the upcoming season. It will, however, reignite an old dilemma for the German coach.
Flick’s stint for the German national team was not memorable and came to an end after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One of the biggest problems he faced in that tournament, notably, was balancing Gundogan and Kimmich’s dynamics together.
With Thomas Muller in the attacking midfield role, Gundogan-Kimmich was Flick’s first-choice double pivot pairing. The duo did not fare well for Flick’s side as they were cut in half regularly and conceded five goals in three games.
It thus remains to be seen how the manager manages the dynamic between Gundogan, who was Barcelona’s best midfielder last season, and Kimmich who he personally bets on.
More importantly, the duo’s presence could directly affect minutes for Gavi and Frenkie de Jong.
