What transfers will Barcelona complete before the window closes?
FT Desk
- 28 Aug 2022 09:47 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona have already signed the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha this summer, but they still have €57 million burning a hole in their pocket.
That might seem barely plausible given the Blaugrana were more than €1 billion in debt when they lost Lionel Messi to PSG last summer, and that Jules Kounde - a July arrival from Sevilla - was only registered for official competitions this weekend.
But they have slowly begun to balance their books by activating "financial levers" - a percentage of future revenues sold in exchange for liquid capital now - and player sales are beginning to add to the pot.
Somehow, Barcelona still have money to spend 🔵 🔴https://t.co/0gVmfQUVqd
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 27, 2022
Philippe Coutinho made his loan deal to Aston Villa permanent for €20m, and a further €5 has been added with Ferran Jutgla's move to Club Brugge.
Lewandowski, Raphinha and Kounde cost a combined €160m, while Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie arrived on free transfers from Chelsea and AC Milan respectively, but it appears Xavi wants further reinforcements for his squad.
Bernardo to Barca?
Manchester City's Bernardo Silva is his top target, Xavi admitting after Barca's recent friendly with the Premier League champions that: "You never lose hope, but it's difficult. It's complicated. We're only a few days away. We must have players leaving too."
Barca want to offload Frenkie de Jong - one of their highest earners - and Bernardo would be an ideal replacement. Pierre-Emerick Aubeyang and Memphis Depay are also nearing moves to Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.
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But Barca also remain in the market for a pair of full-backs. La Masia academy graduate Hector Bellerin is their top target on the right ahead of Villarreal's Juan Foythe and Borussia Dortmund's Thoms Meunier, the Arsenal flying machine available on a free transfer.
At left-back, Marcos Alonso is their player of choice, although that deal is being complicated by Aubameyang's protracted move to Stamford Bridge. Javi Galan, the Celta Viga player, is shortlisted as Plan B in the position.
If Barca can add Bernardo, Bellerin and Alonso before the end of the window, their squad, like their purse-strings, will be bulging at the seams.
