“I don’t anticipate big ones” – Joan Laporta on Erling Haaland transfer saga
President of Barcelona Joan Laporta responded to the rumour of his side chasing Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. The businessman said that there would be transfer activities in the upcoming window but not for a player with a huge price tag.
For the past weeks, the rumour of Haaland joining Barcelona next season has gained momentum. It was since the secret meeting took place between the player representative Rafaela Pimenta and Barca’s sporting boss Deco.
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Barcelona are focused on building the team, instead of signing an expensive player
According to a transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Laporta told Mundo Deportivo that his priority is the team’s collective interest instead of landing a superstar.
“We don’t need any big signing,” Laporta said. “There will be movements but I don’t anticipate big ones, just team players.
“Our priority is to trust the team we have right now, we don’t want to sign players who could distort our harmony.”
Barcelona is facing a huge budget issue internally. The cash flow is something that they have to think carefully of. If they are willing to land Haaland, they would have to let go of some players, in other words sell them.
Frenkie De Jong will stay with Barcelona
Barcelona’s finest midfielder, Frenkie de Jong is rumoured to be a target for several Premier League teams such as Manchester United, Chelsea, and even Tottenham Hotspur. Laporta ensured that the Dutch player would not go anywhere this summer.
“Frenkie de Jong is super happy here,” Laporta claimed. “The last thing he wants is to leave Barcelona. He always told me that he loves to be at Barça and we’re delighted with Frenkie too. I’m not worried with his future, at all.”
The La Liga side’s sporting director Deco, supported Laporta’s statement. The former Chelsea midfielder stressed that selling players is not the plan at the moment.
“The idea is not to sell anyone, on the contrary, to try to strengthen ourselves. We don’t need many things, but we don’t want to sell. We are counting on everyone,” he said.
“Frenkie, Pedri, Gavi, Araujo are players for the present and the future. They have contracts and they have to stay for more years. We also have players of competitive age, we want to maintain the balance of the squad.”
It will be a busy period for Barcelona in the summer transfer window. Apart from procuring players for the next season, Blaugrana have also started to think about the managerial role which would be vacated once Xavi Hernandez leaves.