If Ernesto Valverde decides to stick with a 4-3-3 formation for his third season in charge at Barcelona, there are eight players currently fighting for three spots in midfield: Sergio Busquets, Frenkie De Jong, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal, Arthur, Carles Aleñá, Rafinha and Riqui Puig, and that’s not even counting Philippe Coutinho and Sergi Roberto who can also play in that area of the pitch.
Simply put, there are just too many players in the middle of the park, and the club want to do something about it. Rafinha seems to be on his way out, the wait continues on an offer for Coutinho and the expectation is that one of the two veterans, Vidal or Rakitic, will also be let go if a good offer comes.