Four ways Hansi Flick could use Karim Adeyemi at Barcelona

Four ways Hansi Flick could use Karim Adeyemi at Barcelona Barcelona are making significant progress in their pursuit of Karim Adeyemi, with the club already reaching an agreement on personal terms with the German international.  The only major obstacle that remains is finding common ground with Borussia Dortmund, who are in negotiations with the Catalan club over a transfer fee. According to recent reports, Barcelona are closing in on Karim Adeyemi, although the financial side of the operation is still being discussed.  Dortmund are holding out for around €40 million for the 24-year-old winger, while Barça’s opening proposal stands at €20 million .  Negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days as both clubs attempt to narrow the gap. While the transfer is not yet complete, there is growing optimism inside Barcelona that an agreement can eventually be reached.  All this development naturally raises a tactical question: how would Karim Adeyemi fit into Hansi Flick’s Barcelona? The German forward is capable of playing across the entire front line, but he has built his reputation operating from the right wing, where his pace, direct dribbling and ability to beat defenders consistently create problems.  Those qualities are exactly why Flick has admired him for years . As a right winger when Lamine Yamal rests Karim Adeyemi could act as a cover for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Fabio Deinert/Getty Images) Although many supporters immediately associate Adeyemi with the right wing, Hansi Flick’s plans for Karim Adeyemi are unlikely to be limited to a single position.  One of the biggest reasons Barcelona have pushed so hard for the German is his versatility. Right now, the most straightforward solution would see Adeyemi operate on the right whenever Lamine Yamal is rested.  Barcelona’s young star carried an enormous workload last season, and adding another top-level right-sided attacker would allow Flick to rotate without sacrificing pace or creativity. However, Adeyemi offers far more than simple cover and it is unlikely that he will settle for that in a the first place. As a striker Whenever Barcelona require greater speed through the middle, the German could also lead the line as a striker.  His intelligent movement behind defenders would give creative players like Yamal more space to operate, while his acceleration makes him an ideal target for through balls in transition. Thanks to his quick speed, he can work well with the likes of Yamal and Anthony Gordon and can also capitalise on the Spaniard’s trademark through passes to unlock deeper defences. As a left winger Another possibility is using him from the left.  Although Raphinha and Anthony Gordon currently provide strong competition on that side, Adeyemi’s direct running and willingness to attack defenders mean he could comfortably switch flanks whenever tactical adjustments are needed during matches. Rather than seeing him as a specialist winger, Flick is likely to view Adeyemi as a forward capable of solving several tactical problems throughout a season. Adeyemi, Gordon and Lamine all lining up Perhaps the most exciting possibility involves changing Barcelona’s entire attacking structure. Instead of keeping Lamine Yamal fixed on the right, Flick could occasionally deploy the teenager in a central false-nine role, allowing Anthony Gordon and Adeyemi to stretch opposition defences from both wings. This system would suit the strengths of all three players, as Yamal has played centrally last season and is open to transitioning into that position too. As such, the Barcelona wonderkid would enjoy greater freedom to drift between the lines and dictate attacks, while Gordon and Adeyemi would constantly threaten space behind defenders with their pace and aggressive running.  Because all three attackers are comfortable rotating positions, Barcelona’s front line could become far less predictable than it has been in recent seasons.