Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly looking to make a ‘statement signing’ this summer after striking a deal for a bank loan to help clear some of the club’s debts.
The Blaugrana are up to their necks in over €1billion of debt which appeared to have thwarted any hopes they had of big-money arrivals in the short term.
In addition, their current crop of players are still due wages dating back to January, highlighting the perilous financial position the club finds itself in.
But according to ESPN, Laporta has managed to boost the club’s coffers after coming to an agreement with an American investment bank for a €500million loan.
(Image: REUTERS)
Laporta plans to use €100m of that to give back some of the money owed to the current squad from their January installment, but they will soon be due another at the end of this season.
Another €265m is owed to the banks before the end of June, while a further €100m is due on various transfer clauses from previously.
Laporta has done a decent job of biding Barcelona some time, including agreeing a staggered deal to repay parts of their debt and, for now at least, the club will not have to sell naming rights to their stadium or a stake in Barca Corporate – which looks after a number of their off-field business arms.
How Barcelona intend to use the rest of their line of credit though remains to be seen, but the feeling from within the club is still with the aim of slashing costs and offloading any players who are surplus to requirements. The likes of Philippe Coutinho and Samuel Umtiti are among the stars thought to be up for sale if a suitable bid is received.
Meanwhile the club have been forced to look for transfer targets in the free agent market and have lined up several decent options, including Man City’s Eric Garcia and Lyon’s Memphis Depay – both of whom are expected to join this summer.
Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum is also a target, as is Man City’s Sergio Aguero, though neither player appears any closer to penning a deal with Barcelona at present.
And yet despite their financial restraints, as per ESPN’s report, Laporta is seemingly still keen to land a marquee name this summer to try and boost the club’s hopes of winning the Champions League or La Liga next season.
He is said to be exploring potential targets, with Erling Haaland recently linked with a move to the Nou Camp while Barcelona are also thought to have made contact with Harry Kane’s representatives.
That is in addition to the two-year contract being tabled to Lionel Messi to try and keep him at the club.
Looks like a busy summer for Barcelona’s accountant.
