August 28, (THEWILL) – Barcelona President, Joan Laporta, believes the club still have the financial capabilities to complete several more transfers before the window closes.
Well-known money issues have constrained Barcelona’s transfer dealings in recent seasons and the club have focused on securing player sales to free up wages and make room for any potential bargains. Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez have arrived on free transfers this summer, while Oriol Romeu completed a switch from Girona for a fee of around €4m.
Manchester City full-back, Joao Cancelo, is close to joining on loan in a deal which will include an option to make the move permanent, but Laporta does not think Barcelona will have to stop there.
“I reckon we will have enough salary margin to carry out operations,” Laporta said. “And there will be more than one.” Among Barcelona’s targets for the end of the window is Atletico Madrid forward, Joao Felix, who remains out of favour at Wanda Metropolitano after publicly admitting his desire to join Barca this summer.
Atletico President, Enrique Cerezo, recently confirmed Felix does not want to stay at the club beyond this week’s deadline but declined to reveal whether any negotiations over his future were underway. Asked about a possible move for Felix, Laporta added: “It is an issue that must be asked to Deco, who is working to get a complete squad.”
As for departures, Laporta offered his backing to winger Ansu Fati, who has struggled for minutes this season and has seen himself linked with several teams across Europe. “Ansu has us all in love,” Laporta said of the 20-year-old. “I hope Xavi decides to put him on. Ansu is still with us and we are very happy that he is here.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
