Barcelona will target low-cost signings this summer in order to facilitate €75m “statement-signing” Erling Haaland, according to ESPN.
Barcelona are looking for a statement signing that will take them back to the top of European football. President Laporta is eager to sign Dortmund’s star striker but knows he’ll face tough competition for his signature. Real Madrid, Manchester City and PSG are also interested.
The Norwegian striker is expected to leave the German club when his 75 million euro release clause kicks in this summer. Barcelona representatives have already held meetings with Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola, and father Alf-Inge Haaland.
Haaland’s hefty price tag means other summer signings will need to be cheap. Barcelona are therefore eyeing up players on expiring contracts.
Club sources told ESPN that Barcelona are eyeing up Chelsea trio Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen and Marcos Alonso. Azpilicueta and Christensen are on expiring contracts and would sign for free, while Alonso’s contract runs until 2023.
Other targets include left-back Jose Gaya from Valencia and midfielder Franck Kessie of AC Milan. The latter’s contract expires this summer. Initial talks have taken place but a deal is looking unlikely, according to ESPN.
Barcelona have already cut costs after it was revealed the club had a gross debt of around 1.4 billion euros. The club is hoping to announce a new 3-year deal with Spotify in the coming days. According to reports, the deal would bring in around 93 million euros per season.
