Work at FC Barcelona has moved from the pitch to the boardroom. Just a month after being crowned league champions, the club already has a lot on its plate. What looked like it would be a quiet summer, with the main objective repeatedly stated as keeping the team together, has given way to an intense summer with a soap opera surrounding the goalkeeper position and uncertainty over the club’s financial situation ahead of the transfer market.
A clear objective
Deco, in an interview with Globoesporte in Brazil at the Arena Deco Beach, a sports complex he owns, made clear what the roadmap is for the Azulgrana team in this transfer window. “I think we have a good balance, both in defense and in midfield. There are players who are still going to grow. Like Gavi, who is coming back from injury, but with next year’s preseason he is going to improve a lot. There’s also Marc Bernal, who was injured at the start of the season. We have Araújo and Dani Olmo, who we’re working with to ensure they don’t suffer any more injuries,“ said Deco, who shortly afterwards added that this was where he saw the most options in the transfer market: ”And in attack, it will depend on what we can do in the transfer market. But that’s perhaps the only area where we feel we’re missing one or two players.”
In recent weeks, there has been talk of the search for a left winger. This is a task left over from previous transfer windows and a goal agreed upon by sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick.
Both are well aware of the dependence and lack of alternatives up front and want to increase competition with a reliable player who can open up the team’s play and has the ability to dribble and get past players. Luis Díaz, the favoriteFor this position, there has been one name above the rest for weeks, despite the difficulties involved in signing him. We are talking about Luis Díaz.
The Liverpool winger is Deco’s weakness, and he wants to play for time in his signing. The English club is currently demanding around $80 million to let the Colombian go, but Barça is aware of the huge investment the club is making in signings and hopes that, over time, the player’s asking price will come down given the need to bring in money.
Everything will depend on fair play
It is not only necessary to look outside the club when signing players, as beyond the price, the club’s financial situation also influences its decisions in the transfer market. With the signing of Joan García sealed, space must be made in the salary cap. In this regard, Álex Valle has already been sold and Lenglet has officially left, opening up a space that they hope will be larger with the departure of Ansu Fati. A destination is also being sought for Pablo Torre, Iñaki Peña, and Pau Víctor.