Goals are worth gold dust in every major league in the world and La Liga is no exception to the rule. And last season, the top two sides had some strikers who were banging in form.
Karim Benzema top scored in the Spanish league and the Champions League as Real Madrid won a spectacular double while their Clasico rivals looked on with envy.
But there were good signs at the Camp Nou where the arrival of Xavi as head coach prompted a superb second half of the campaign, as new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored 11 goals from 17 appearances to make it into La Liga’s top 11 goal scorers in just half a season.
The La Liga 2022 betting odds will install Los Blancos as favourites for the next campaign, but Barcelona are doing all they can to strengthen in readiness for the new season. If Barca can sign Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, then next season’s Clasico will be a blockbuster for sure.
But while some reports suggest he has agreed terms with the Catalans, the deal is some way from fruition as the Pole’s club seems to be digging its heels in as their star striker still has a year to run on is contract and the Bavarians expect him to see that out.
I’m not sure what an unhappy player would do to the German champions’ morale, particularly their talisman, so I suspect there is a deal to be done and it’s just a matter of being patient.
We’re following this story very closely here at SBOTOP. And when it does reach a climax, the outcome will be the biggest La Liga 2022 news of the summer if Lewy does arrive in Catalonia.
The Blaugrana eventually climbed to second place under Xavi but still 13 points behind champions Real Madrid so Xavi is keen to strengthen.
And reports have emerged that he is also in talks with Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Angel Di Maria. The 34-year-old’s contract is up at the Parc des Princes and, with proven success in La Liga with Real Madrid, the Argentine would be a shrewd buy for the Blaugrana.
Di Maria made 14 goal contributions in 31 matches for PSG last season but Xavi might face competition from Juventus who are also keen on the versatile winger.
Do Real have faith in Jesus?
Over in Madrid, Los Blancos have missed out on the signing of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe and boss Carlo Ancelotti is also keen to strengthen.
Of course, Los Blancos already have two of the hottest strikers in Spanish football with Benzema and Vinicius Junior paired up front in the 2021/22 campaign. But there may be a chance to strengthen if they can do a deal to bring Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Brazilian will find his opportunities limited following the arrival of Haaland at the Etihad and his agents are working on an exit with Premier League rivals Arsenal looking to bring the player to north London.
Jesus’ representatives are reported to have offered him to Los Blancos and he could slot in to replace Luka Jovic who looks like he is on the way out. Whether the player would be prepared to battle with Benzema and Vinicius for a place remains to be seen, but it would be a high profile move which might appeal.
As La Liga and Champions League winners, Real Madrid’s squad has a lot to live up to and Jesus might just be the man to help them kick on.
Soler to Atleti?
Valencia’s sought-after creative midfielder Carlos Soler looks set to leave the Mestalla pretty soon and he may well be on his way to Madrid, but not to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Atletico have been in talks with the player who, at the age of 25, has already made 222 appearances for Valencia, scoring 35 goals and making 31 assists.
Los Che are ready to offload their main asset this summer and are asking for 30-M Euros for the Spanish international who has one year left to run on his contract, but Rojiblancos head coach Diego Simeone will hope he can get his man at a cut price.
The money men have work to do but Valencia won’t want to lose their star man for nothing next summer and he has already been linked with both Juventus and Barcelona as well as Los Rojiblancos. Soler will have to make his decision whether he wants to stay in Spain or try his luck in Serie A. If he chooses to stay in La Liga, then that would make Los Rojiblancos favourite to win his services as a move to Barcelona would be contingent on the sale of their midfield star Frenkie de Jong.
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