FC Barcelona Are Closing In On Two Huge Signings For 2024

FC Barcelona appear to be closing in on two big signings for 2024.

The Catalans won the La Liga for the first time in four years last term, but manager Xavi Hernandez felt the need to make reinforcements for 2023/2024 so that the title can possibly be successfully defended and Barca can return to competing on the continent after back-to-back Champions League group exits.

Ex-Manchester City skipper Ilkay Gundogan was already announced as arriving on a free transfer at the start of the week, with the German international signing a two-year contract with the option of extending for another year if he plays in at least 60% of matches in his second campaign.

Former Athletic Club defender Inigo Martinez is another signing that has been made, and one which SPORT reports can be announced in the coming days now that his contract expired on June 30 in Bilbao.

The daily newspaper also highlights how Barca are not just looking at the short term, with other signings set to be made in the now open transfer window if their financial situation allows, but also the long term.

At present, the club is working on two big signings for 2024 which if pulled off would see them land two of football’s most talked up young prospects.

For some time now, it has seemed clear that Barca have an agreement in principle with Athletico Paranaense for Vitor Roque which will see them hand over €35 million ($38.25 million) plus a further €10 million ($10.9 million) if a series of conditions are met.

Though Barca don’t rule out Roque arriving in the coming weeks, or in January with the ongoing South American season having been wrapped up, his arrival is scheduled to take place in 2024-2025.

The youngster will act as an understudy to Robert Lewandowski to one day succeed him as striker. But he could also provide positional rivalry to compatriot Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele on the right wing or – more likely – possibly push Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres further down the pecking order on the left when Xavi hasn’t opted for the four-man midfield system and wants a pure wideman.

Barca will also compete with Real Madrid for the capture of Turkish pearl Arda Guler, whose €17.5 million ($19 million) release clause is affordable for now.

The club should strive to pip Los Blancos to the post now and arrange a deal with Fenerbahce before the price sky rockets. That might involve making an initial payment as a gesture of goodwill and intent, but shouldn’t be too expensive and within Barca’s economic reality.

Sporting director Deco has already travelled to Istanbul to try and get an agreement over the line, with Guler – who has been compared to Mesut Ozil – ideally staying in Turkey another season before upping sticks to Catalonia.

Laporta has admitted on TV3 that the club is working on Guler, and making moves not just for this summer but the next communicates that the president and his directors are looking at the big picture.