Barcelona are pushing ahead with their plans for the 2023 summer transfer window, despite continued financial concerns and legal issues plaguing the club at present.
90min understands president Joan Laporta is confident affairs off the field will be handled and is preparing to sanction the club’s hierarchy to push on with the deals they want to pull off in order to compete at Europe’s top table again.
Xavi’s Barcelona were knocked out of the Champions League group stages and out of the Europa League by Manchester United, but are set to win La Liga barring a late season collapse – they lead Real Madrid by 12 points with 12 games remaining.
Head coach Xavi is intent on trying to recapture the Champions League and feels further enhancements to the playing squad are needed, 90min understands.
Deals are already being worked on for the summer. Barcelona have agreed terms with Athletic Club defender Inigo Martinez, who is out of contract and set to move on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Barcelona have opted for Martinez ahead of Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte, but they are still hoping to complete a double raid on the English champions, with midfield duo Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan firmly in their sights.
They have already held talks with Gundogan – something they are entitled to do as he is out of contract at the end of June. City are open to Gundogan staying but are giving him time to decide his next move.
Silva is a player Xavi has made it clear he wants, and the player has not hidden his desire to join Barcelona. 90min understands City told him he could not leave last summer, and instead preferred to revisit the situation in 2023.
The Portuguese’s desire to join Barca remains and City boss Pep Guardiola is steadfast on being ready to sell players who no longer want to stay – as has been evidenced in the sales of Arsenal duo Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Bernardo’s departure is therefore likely to be sanctioned at this point.
Brazil starlet Vitor Roque is high on Barcelona’s radar and talks have taken place with his club Athletico Paranaense, with hope a deal can be struck for the 18-year-old. An initial loan with obligation to buy – similar to the transfer that saw Kylian Mbappe move to Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco – could be put in place given the restrictions on Barcelona at present.
Then, of course, there is Lionel Messi. 90min revealed earlier in March that the club legend is edging towards returning to Camp Nou. His father…
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