Joan Laporta Won't Settle. Even though Barça could win the treble - they are leading in La Liga, in the Copa final, and in the Champions League quarter-finals - the president is thinking big. Laporta believes this could be the ideal moment to make a bold statement that Barça is definitively back.
The president wants to accompany the sporting success with a major signing to consolidate the new Barça project. Although the salary cap remains an evident problem, the intention is that, if there is room, the club will make an effort to sign a star.
Laporta Dreams of a High-Profile Signing
The sports management has a very clear idea of the type of player the team needs. The priority objective is to sign a standout left winger, a footballer with dribbling skills, scoring ability, and the capacity to turn games around. In this regard, the favorite is Luis Díaz from Liverpool, who is highly regarded for his physical strength, European experience, and aggressive play style.
If such an ambitious operation can't be undertaken, there are alternatives on the table. The other two names strongly considered as second-tier options are Ademola Lookman and Nico Williams. Both are liked by Hansi Flick for their electric profile and youth, and they would be more affordable options economically.
Barça Needs Sales to Dream of a Signing
However, for this major signing to happen, Barça must recover the 1:1 Fair Play rule. Currently, they are still exceeding the salary cap and can't register players without freeing up space or generating extraordinary income. The situation is complex, but the club is working on several fronts to solve it.
One of the pillars of this strategy is recovering income from the VIP Boxes, an operation now denounced by La Liga. Additionally, the club has several sales planned for the summer, with the most clear-cut cases being Ansu Fati and Andreas Christensen. Both departures would allow for space in the salary cap.
The First Sale Won't Be Ansu Fati
The first operation to be finalized will almost certainly be Clément Lenglet. The Frenchman is on loan at Atlético de Madrid, and according to 'El Nacional', the club intends to keep Clément Lenglet.
Barça has priced the sale at 10 million euros, a manageable figure for Atlético de Madrid and one that would help begin to alleviate the club's economic situation. The transfer is expected to be completed at the end of the season, marking the start of a summer in which Barça will seek to strengthen the squad with a significant signing.