Barcelona are making progress on three strategic signings for new project
The club want to strengthen in attack and defence over the summer
Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced Tuesday that the club are already working on the squad for next season and made it clear that the priority targets will be a striker, a right-back and a centre-back.
Barca have had a list of targets agreed with Xavi Hernandez for weeks in order to make advances in the negotiations, although everything will depend on the salary limit the club has this summer. Vitor Roque (Paranaense), Juan Foyth (Villarreal) and Íñigo Martínez (Athletic) are the most sought-after, although there are more options in each position.
The idea is to invest, above all, in the position of striker and right-back as they are considered to be an absolute priority for the needs of the team. The club wants to bring in goalscoring talent such as the Brazilian youngster Vitor Roque and the arrival of a winger is not ruled out either, as long as the economic conditions are optimal and there are some outgoings in the attacking area.
There will also be investment at right-back, a position that has been lacking since the first departure of Dani Alves from the team. None of the gambles made in recent years have worked out despite the expenditure made. Xavi wants a specialist who is undisputed and can be used for the future.
His choice is the Argentinian Foyth, from Villarreal, although his price is very high and for now the LaLiga side do not want to negotiate. If he does not leave for a reasonable price, Barça have considered going for Pavard (Bayern) or Meunier (Dortmund), although the former has practically ruled himself out because he will renew his contract with the Germans.
CENTRE-BACK
As for the centre-back position, the most advanced operation -- and practically closed -- is the arrival of Martínez. It is true that Barça have been closely monitoring his injury, which has kept him sidelined for several months, but both the sporting department and the coaching staff believe that he is the ideal profile from a sporting and financial point of view.
Martinez has offers from Atletico Madrid and Aston Villa, among others, but he has waited for Barça and will continue to do so. Barça also have on the table the possibility of signing Aymeric Laporte, but in this case they would only open the doors to him if he leaves on loan with an option to buy, something that is far from clear.
In principle, Barça will not be looking to sign any midfielder unless Sergio Busquets decides not to renew his contract with the club. The idea is to give continuity to the current squad and they would only consider offers for players who have had less playing time. The club has already renewed Sergi Roberto, who will now occupy a place in the midfield. There is no intention of putting Frenkie de Jong on the market as he has become a fundamental part of the project.
The three positions to be reinforced are more than clear, although Barça will be attentive to opportunities in the market... and to what might happen with Leo Messi. The Argentine's father has already said that his chances of returning to Barça were minimal, but there is no definitive 'no' to anything and we will have to see what happens with PSG if they are eliminated from the Champions League by Bayern.
