With the winter transfer window closed and the club looking increasingly unlikely to end the season with a trophy, FC Barcelona are already looking ahead to the next season and planning to ensure it is a successful one.
For this purpose, some of the weaknesses in the current squad will have to be eliminated, and the clear area that needs strengthening is that of the midfield pivot.
However, according to SPORT, in addition to a pivot, Barcelona are also looking to sign a star attacker, and one of the players being considered by President Joan Laporta is the AC Milan winger, Rafael Leao.
As things stand, Barcelona are mired in financial difficulties. However, work is being done to ensure the sale of Barca Studios, which will result in an income of €200 million into the club’s coffers, and thus help the Catalans return to the 1-1 rule regarding player wages.
After having invested more than €200 million two years ago, to sign players like Lewandowski, Kounde, and Raphinha, Laporta understands that another major investment is needed to make the team able to compete with the biggest clubs in Europe.
For the pivot position, Andre Onana from Everton is one of the favorites to arrive, as long as this operation does not exceed €40 million. However, Leao will be significantly more expensive, but he would also bring a lot of good qualities to the team, including his speed and ability to score goals.
FC Barcelona had already made an approach for him in the past unsuccessfully, but now the player himself has hinted that his time in Italy might be coming to an end. PSG are interested in him, but he does not want to go back to France, and wants his next destination to be either Spain or England.
Leao’s current contract with AC Milan runs till 2028, and he has a release clause of €150 million. Barcelona would be unlikely to reach this figure, but can still put in a competent offer to convince Milan to part with their star. Although Jorge Mendes is no longer Leao’s agent, he is still trying to influence his decision about his future destination.