BARCELONA

Spanish Primera Division

Overall summer goal: Make magic happen

Bob Dylan isn't a Cule but the answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind, by which I mean that anyone claiming that Barcelona's summer objectives are planned, strategic and wholly bankable wouldn't be telling the truth. Take Neymar. When, in March, FCB struck a deal with Antoine Griezmann that they'd pay his buyout clause of €120m after July 1, they didn't know Paris Saint-Germain would want to dump Neymar or that the AWOL Brazilian would go down on bended knee for a Camp Nou return. Thus, their efforts to resign him are being improvised.

There isn't a budget line, or even close to it, at Barcelona. Yeah, there's a strategy that the squad needs to be pared down, huge sums need to be earned via general sales, the top 14-15 players need to be faster, stronger and more resilient when next Spring comes than during the last four years.

Players they need to sign: An elite right-back who is tall, athletic and technically gifted if possible. Dani Alves only fulfils two of these criteria, but he is also dreaming of a Camp Nou return. Also a highly competitive left-back to both push and offer rest to Jordi Alba. They need a replacement for Jasper Cillessen replacement, presumably Neto.

Players on their way out: The list is significant but getting smaller. Overall, if Eric Abidal and Pep Segura, the leaders of "Operation Offload," haven't found new homes and nice sums for: Coutinho, Nelson Semedo, Rafinha, Denis Suarez, Cucurella, Malcom to follow Andre Gomes, Marc Cardona, Jasper Cillessen, plus the loanees Jeison Murillo and Kevin Prince-Boateng, then they've got a problem.

Players they should sell: Ousmane Dembele? He's an extraordinary talent, albeit with Neymar-esque tendencies off the pitch, so Barcelona don't want to sell unless they're guaranteed both Griezmann and Neymar are coming in. They view their high-price-tag, saleable assets as being Coutinho plus Rakitic. The former has seen his value plummet and two possible destinations, Chelsea and Manchester United, marked "impossible." Rakitic, who has a market, steadfastly refuses to budge. Nor should they sell him if someone has to tidy up behind a front line of Suarez, Messi, Neymar and Griezmann! -- Graham Hunter

ATLETICO MADRID

Spanish Primera Division

Overall summer goal: Replace a lot of lost leadership and grit

Education used to be "the three R's," reading, writing and 'rithmetic. Two "R's" sum up the title of Atleti's summer assignment, too: Rejuvenation and replacement. The trademark across Diego Simeone's eight brilliant years as manager has been a snarling, street-smart and perpetual competitive energy. Pressing, passing, prying teams open. That's been evaporating of late, and it's vital that Atleti 2019-20 become fitter, fierier, battle-ready and mean-eyed. The second principal task is compensating for a vast haemorrhage of experience. Not just Godin and Lucas Hernandez but Juanfran, Antoine Griezmann, probably Rodri and Filipe Luis too.

Players they need to sign: Mario Hermoso or Nicolas Otamendi would be good bets to bolster los Rojiblancos in precisely the way they need, albeit that the former remains a prospect and the latter is a known quantity (for better and for worse). Unless Simeone suddenly trusts Sime Vrsaljko (doubtful), Atleti need to sign a right-back and a left-back for the first team.

There's a wonderful replacement for Griezmann out there in Mikel Oyarzabal, but La Real would be mad to sell and as soon as the world knew that the Basque striker was buyable, there promises to be a big queue. It shouldn't stop Atleti trying, though. Chimy Avila showed enough at Huesca to prove that he could, if bought from San Lorenzo, be a marvellous jack-in-the-box player for Simeone: he's energetic, aggressive, competitive, quick, goal-providing and a fan favourite.

Players on their way out: The door marked Salida has been banging open so often in recent weeks that only the true "no-hopers" will be allowed to leave easily now. Gelson Martins didn't work, never looked like working and recently stated his extreme aversion to returning. He's a goner.

Players they should sell: The evidence, albeit brief, suggests that in Francisco Montero, Borja Garces, Victor Mollejo and Sergio Camello, Atleti have a very healthy batch of "kids" ready to push through. They should sell in order to, as gardeners would put it, "dead-head." Let the fresh petals bloom. Out, and good riddance, should go Diego Costa, too, as he's aging, unreliable, overweight and goal-shy. There may still be value in moving Vitolo, whose time with Atleti has been a gross disappointment. If Emery wants him at Arsenal, they should sell! -- Graham Hunter

REAL MADRID

Spanish Primera Division

Overall summer goal: Reboot, spend sensibly and compete again

There are a huge number of objectives on the go here. Madrid need, first, to make their squad competitive again. Last season they were paper-thin, listless, sated and easy to beat. It's imperative that the new signings, those already bought and those to come, add intensity, hunger and a "winning" mindset. Secondly, Los Blancos need to continue a huge operation aimed at both reducing the bloated squad collecting a first-team salary while, at the same time, generating a huge amount of money: at least €200m.

Finally, Zidane needs to work out a playing system that adapts well to the embarrassment of attacking and creative talent he has at his disposal. A bonus, if achievable, would be for President Florentino Perez and coach Zidane to see eye-to-eye on more matters so that the low-rumble of "would Zizou REALLY walk away again if he doesn't get his way?" dissipates and allows the focussed work to succeed.

Players they need to sign: Frankly they've done well so far. Hazard is their Galactico. We knew about Rodrygo, while Eder Militao has been sorted for some time. All three add quality, albeit with wild variances in experience. Luka Jovic will score goals anywhere if supplied with chances: just don't expect intricate technique. Ferland Mendy, potentially, could do enormous good at left-back: he's talented, defensive and athletic. But he's also a stimulus to Marcelo's (footballing) appetite too. Midfield, where they'll surely either add Pogba or Donny Van Der Beek, is where they still have significant shoring up to do.

Players on their way out: James Rodriguez, Borja Mayoral, Mariano, Theo Hernandez and Martin Odegaard will follow Marcos Llorente out the door.

Players they should sell: Now here's the rub! It's common knowledge that not only does Zidane want Gareth Bale out and that Florentino wants a hefty price for the Welshman, but too few realise that his contract is vastly lucrative and lengthy and that he's flat refusing to go. A terrific summer soap opera is brewing. Expect trouble ahead. It's also daft that Keylor Navas, on comparative form, not only isn't Madrid's No.1 keeper but is being pushed out. There's a bargain buy here for someone. Madrid must bite the bullet and decide that either Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez or Isco is surplus and can generate a huge price. Right now there is, as airlines would say, "overbooking" in Madrid's advanced positions, meaning time to take hard decisions. Frankly: they should have sold Toni Kroos. -- Graham Hunter

JUVENTUS

Italian Serie A

Overall summer goal: More big investment to fit Sarri, Ronaldo

Rather than represent the final piece, the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo marked the beginning of a new growth phase with one eye on the Champions League and another on winning new fans and commercial deals all over the world. Juventus wish to make the most of his ability to attract the best talent of a new generation, the stars of which grew up watching him and find the idea of learning at his side very appealing. How they pay for these hype machines whose potential comes at a premium will be one of the things to watch over the course of the window.

The team needs to get younger particularly at the back. The midfield must also be skilled up with more passers and dribblers; this area, perhaps more than any other, has to come under review.

Players they need to sign: Juventus hope to rejuvenate the centre-back department with the brightest young player in the position, Matthijs de Ligt, and Merih Demiral, an absolute steal from Sassuolo who seriously impressed in his first six months in Italy. The upgrade in midfield is being addressed in classic Juve fashion with smart free transfers. Expect Adrien Rabiot to follow Aaron Ramsey, while talk of Paul Pogba and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic continues. Funding those deals and persuading Fiorentina to part with Federico Chiesa looks problematic.

Players on their way out: Andrea Barzagli has retired, freeing up a spot in defence. There is a leadership gap that needs bridging. The return of Gianluigi Buffon will compensate for that as well as the vacant backup goalkeeper slot, with Mattia Perin seeking regular game time ahead of the Euros. If players with big egos like Pogba, Rabiot and Mauro Icardi do arrive, Juventus will need Buffon to keep them all in check. A decision also needs to be made on what's best for Moise Kean's development.

Players they should sell: Gonzalo Higuain is proving hard to shift, and Sarri's arrival is unlikely to improve his cause with Cristiano Ronaldo taking over the No. 9 role. The same goes for Marko Pjaca. Remember him. Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira got their contracts extended last year but it's difficult to see a future for them. Paulo Dybala would almost certainly have pushed for a move in the event Allegri stayed. Cancelo is on his way out after just a year in Turin and while it's true Douglas Costa was one of the few players name-checked by Sarri in his introductory news conference, you'd think Juventus would sacrifice him in an effort to stack up the funds necessary for Chiesa. -- James Horncastle