FC Barcelona Have Five Signings Planned In Total Including Gundogan

Former Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is just one of five signings FC Barcelona plan to make for the upcoming 2023/2024 season according to SPORT.

The Catalans announced the capture of the German international on Monday morning in Europe, with the 32-year-old agreeing to a three-year contract that has a €400 million ($435 million) release clause.

Yet while the midfielder is the first signing to be announced for the first team this summer, Athletic Club defender Inigo Martinez already agreed to join Barca quite some time ago while Gundogan was mulling over whether to accept an extension from City or even take the big money in Saudi Arabia.

As Martinez is – like Gundogan was until recently – soon a free agent, he is expected to be the next capture announced by president Joan Laporta and his board.

Gundogan will probably operate in a more attacking role akin to Pedri, and it is no secret that manager Xavi Hernandez wants a more defensive “pivot” to replace outgoing skipper Sergio Busquets as well.

At present, Barca are trying to land a player on the losing side of the Champions League final won by ex-City captain Gundogan in Istanbul – Marcelo Brozovic.

They have lodged an offer of around €15 million ($16.3 million) to Inter Milan for the Croatian’s services SPORT reports, but he could be tempted by a proposal worth double this amount in terms of yearly salary from Al-Nassr.

Barca would also like to incorporate Vitor Roque – the 18-year-old Brazilian striker at Athletico Paranaense for whom they have already closed a €35 million ($38 million) plus €10 million ($11 million) in add-ons “agreement in principle” according to Mundo Deportivo.

That already taking the tally to four, Barca additionally wish to seal a right back after being left short-staffed in the position.

Jules Kounde filled in the role to great effect across the La Liga winning-2022/2023 season, but the Frenchman’s preference is to play at center back and try and break up the strong partnership formed by Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo.

By making these signings, Barca should be well-equipped to improve on their Champions League results in the last couple of campaigns which have seen them fail to get out of the group on back-to-back occasions.