FC Barcelona Have Three Transfer Targets For Summer 2023

FC Barcelona have three transfer targets to sign this summer, according to reports.

The Blaugrana currently have a financial headache to deal with after La Liga president Javier Tebas revealed last week that they must shave at least €200mn ($214.5mn) from their wage bill ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

This will probably force the Catalans to make a big player sale, with Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, and even Ansu Fati tipped for the chopping block.

Even if Barca are likely crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2019 in early June, however, considering their eight point lead over Real Madrid, head coach Xavi Hernandez will still want to make reinforcements.

Mundo Deportivo reports on Wednesday that there are three in mind. The first is Vitor Roque, the 17-year-old whose transfer SPORT claimed Barca are already negotiating with Athletico Paranaense.

Roque is lighting up the South American U20 Championships where he is the top scorer on six goals and is seen by Barca as a potential ‘new Luis Suarez’ who can eventually replace Robert Lewandowski in the medium-to-long term.

The youngster able to operate as a winger or striker will reportedly cost €35-40mn ($37.5-43mn), which thankfully for Barca can be spread out into yearly installments across three seasons.

Next is Sofyan Amrabat, one of the main stars of Morocco’s unlikely run to the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar at the end of 2022. The 26-year-old tried to force his exit from Fiorentina towards the close of the winter transfer window to no avail.

Come summer, however, Barca will have to improve on their reported proposal of a €3mn ($3.2mn) loan fee with a €37mn ($38mn) option to buy if they wish to land the hard-working midfielder.

Lastly, the Blaugrana hashed out a €15mn ($16mn) option to buy Yannick Carrasco when offloading Memphis Depay to his current club Atletico Madrid.

With the Belgian out of contract in 2024, however, it is expected that president Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany will try and bring this sum down.

Of the three players, Barca should prioritize Roque given his age, potential, and versatility. The club does not want to miss out on another Brazilian pearl who could cost far more down the line, or see him wind up at Real Madrid as seen with the likes of Rodrygo, Vincius Jr, and Endrick.

Carrasco and Amrabat are far less necessary, but Carrasco could provide competition to Raphinha and Dembele on the wing.

Sergio Busquets’ potential exit to Saudi Arabia or the MLS could make Amrabat an attractive prospect, but Frenck Kessie showed in Sunday’s 3-0 rout of Sevilla that he is worthy of more chances in the first XI moving forward.