10 players who could join Barcelona this summer

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Suraj Radia | Editor

Barcelona have had some intriguing summer transfer windows in recent years due to their ongoing financial struggles which has prompted some creative business to secure their targets.

The Blaugrana have often relied on free transfers and loans to avoid their large wage bill continuing to balloon but there is hope that this summer they can make at least one marquee signing.

FootballTransfers takes a look at 10 players who could join Barcelona in the off season.

Marcus Rashford (Man Utd)

The permanent signing of Marcus Rashford was expected to be a formality after a positive loan spell from Manchester United this season but Barcelona are reluctant to pay the agreed fee for the 28-year-old.

Rashford has impressed with his attitude and performances during his time in Catalonia and there is an option to turn his loan into a permanent deal for €30m but Barca are hoping to negotiate a lower fee if they are to keep hold of the forward.

United have no desire to entertain a discount or a fresh loan for Rashford, which could put the deal in jeopardy, but the England international is keen on staying with Barca and, should he finish the deal strongly, the club will likely push towards extending his stint if possible.

Abde Ezzalzouli (Inter)

Should Barcelona opt against keeping hold of Rashford, a move for Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli is expected to materialise instead due to his availability for a bargain price.

Barca have an option to buy back Abde for a reported fee of €20m, having sold him to Betis in 2023 for €7.5m, and the 24-year-old’s performances have prompted questions over whether he can be a cheaper alternative to Rashford.

Abde has been a key figure for Betis during his time at the club and has impressed this season, with seven goals and seven assists to his name in La Liga, having come through Barca’s academy as a youngster.

Alessandro Bastoni (Inter)

One deal which is already believed to be in progress is the signing of Alessandro Bastoni, with Barcelona seeing the Inter defender as the perfect long-term left centre-back.

Bastoni has been a standout defender in Serie A throughout his career but a recent dip in form has opened the door to an exit from Inter, with a deal seen as a win-win for all parties.

While talks are reportedly ongoing with the player, negotiations over a fee have not begun, with Barca aiming to pay around €50m, while Inter are thought to be holding out for closer to €60-70m.

Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid)

The player Barcelona are most desperate to sign this summer is Julian Alvarez, with Hansi Flick’s side looking to find a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski up front as they prepare for a future without their 37-year-old star striker.

Alvarez has been admired by Barca ever since moving to Spain from Man City but Atletico Madrid are not expected to be willing sellers and would likely demand a fee of at least €100m to consider the Argentine international’s exit, with Arsenal also thought to be interested in a deal.

Barca are hoping that Alvarez’s desire to join the club will take priority and that their public pursuit of the player will convince him to push for an exit so that the La Liga giants can secure their preferred option to replace Lewandowski.

Marc Cucurella (Chelsea)

Barcelona are believed to be considering the signing of a full-back this summer and Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella is thought to be high on their list of potential targets, having come through the club’s academy.

Speculation also intensified over a move in March after Cucurella admitted it would be difficult to turn down a return to his boyhood club, much to the fury of Chelsea.

Cucurella is a key player for Chelsea and they are not looking to cash in on the left-back but, should Barcelona find the funds, a deal could be feasible if the Blues end up missing out on Champions League football for next season.

Bernardo Silva (Man City)

Bernardo Silva recently announced that he would be leaving Manchester City at the conclusion of the season following a trophy-littered career at the Etihad.

Though he has lucrative offers from Juventus and Saudi Arabia on the table, he is reportedly keen on a move to Spain, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid said to be interested.

Madrid's abundance of attacking midfielders already in the ranks could hand Barca the advantage, while Hansi Flick is in favour of the move due to Silva's ability to play in a number of positions, including on the wing and in central midfield.

Crucially, he won't cost a transfer fee and anything 'free' comes as music to the ears of the club these days.

Kees Smith (AZ Alkmaar)

The Netherlands international Kees Smit is regarded as one of the best young prospects in European football and he has been widely tipped to leave AZ Alkmaar this summer amid significant transfer interest from a number of elite teams across the continent.

Whoever wants to buy the player faces outrageous competition though, as the following teams have been credited with an interest or, have scouted the player over the past year: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Man Utd, Newcastle, Bayern Munich, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Fulham, RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur.

Barca will hope that Smit wants to follow in the foootsteps of fellow Dutchman like Frenkie de Jong, Philip Cocu, Mark van Bommel and Ronald Koeman by making a mark at Camp Nou.

Nicknamed 'the new Kevin De Bruyne' it seems a matter of time before Smit leaves the Eredivisie for bigger and better things.

Rafael Leao (Milan)

Rafel Leao's stock has fallen this season due to an underwhelming season with Milan but he remains a wanted man in the transfer market.

Unplayable on his day, Leao simply needs to be in the mood and Barca believe they can mould the player's talents into becoming one of the gems of European football.

Should the club not sign Rashford, they will target a marquee signing down the left wing to provide competition again for Raphinha.

In recent years, Milan put a €100m price tag on Leao's head, but it is believed they would now accept closer to €50m.

Just like with Bernardo Silva, agent Jorge Mendes could be the central figure here.

Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth)

According to numerous outlets, Marcos Senesi has agreed to join Tottenham this summer, but that deal could fall apart if Spurs end up relegated, which looks a real possibility.

Should that happen, Barca are read to pounce to sign him on a Bosman deal which, again, would make sense for the club financially.

Flick wants to sign a centre-back this summer as there hasn't been a consistent pairing that he can call upon on 2025/26, which Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsia, Gerard Martin and others all sharing responsibilities without one true leader in the backline.

John Stones (Man City

Like Silva, John Stones has confirmed he'll leave Man City this summer after an injury-ravaged campaign with Pep Guardiola's side.

Turning 32 this May, he isn't exactly eyeing retirement, but his persistent injury troubles suggest a move to a less physically-demanding league might be on the cards.

Known for his ability in possession, he would be well-suited to Barcelona and La Liga, though high wages could be an issue as the Blaugrana can't afford an expensive acquisition spending all his time in the physio's room.

The player himself is believed to be extremely keen on the move.

Written by

Suraj Radia | Editor

Suraj Radia is an NCTJ-qualified journalist and editor with more than a decade of experience at some of the biggest sportsdesks and press agencies across the industry. He has been a regular freelance contributor to FootballTransfers since April 2022.

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