Barcelona’s summer transfer plans face a significant hurdle as they need to comply with La Liga’s salary limit and spending rules. In February, La Liga reduced Barcelona’s permitted salary limit from €648 million to €204 million. This means that Barcelona must make cuts in their wage bill before they can sign any new players. President Joan Laporta stated that the club is working towards reducing their wage bill and has received recognition from La Liga for their efforts.
Despite these financial constraints, Barcelona is already planning to address a key position in their squad: defensive midfield. The departure of Sergio Busquets last year was seen as a major reason behind the team’s disappointing season. Xavi and his coaching staff, along with the sporting direction led by Deco, are in agreement that signing a defensive midfielder should be their next move in the transfer market.
The club has identified two top targets for this position: Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad and Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich. Barcelona previously asked for both players last season but ended up signing Oriol Romeu instead. With Romeu expected to leave this summer, a return to Girona is a possibility.
Barcelona sources believe that Kimmich is the more likely option out of the two targets. If Barca had been in a position to make an offer last year, Kimmich may have considered a move. With his contract set to expire in 2025, a decision on his future will have to be made, and a sale could make sense for all parties involved. However, Kimmich will not come cheap, with his estimated value at €40 million according to the CIES Football Observatory.
Xavi sees Kimmich adapting well to the holding midfield role, despite being used as a right-back by Thomas Tuchel at Bayern. The German manager had attempted to sign Joao Palhinha from Fulham last summer but the deal fell through.
Zubimendi, on the other hand, will likely only be sold if a club matches his €60 million release clause at Real Sociedad. The 25-year-old midfielder has also attracted interest from Premier League clubs, including Arsenal. Zubimendi has expressed his happiness at Real Sociedad but has not ruled out a move in the future.
Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has his own preferences for defensive midfield options. One of them is Amadou Onana from Everton, but a deal seems unlikely due to Everton’s improved league position.
Another player on Barcelona’s radar is Guido Rodriguez from Real Betis. The Argentina international is nearing the end of his contract and is not expected to sign a new deal. Initial talks between Barcelona and Rodriguez’s camp have been positive, and the coaching staff believes he could be a useful addition to the squad.
However, Rodriguez’s arrival would be to cover for Romeu’s departure as a rotation option, and it would not change the club’s plans to make a significant investment in a starting holding midfielder.
In conclusion, Barcelona faces financial constraints that they need to overcome before they can make any new signings. The club is targeting defensive midfielders, with Joshua Kimmich and Martin Zubimendi being the top choices. While Kimmich may be more likely to join, his price tag could be a hurdle. Zubimendi has attracted interest from other clubs as well. Barcelona’s sporting director also has his own preferences, including Guido Rodriguez from Real Betis. However, any signings would be to provide depth rather than as a major investment in a starting midfielder.