Barcelona opt against 'express lever' to make further transfers

29 Aug 2024 18:00 BST
3 min read

Joan Laporta, Barcelona, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Barcelona’s incoming transfer business appears to be done for the summer, with the club reportedly ruling out activating an ‘express lever’ to make another signing.

Article continues under the video

The Catalan side’s financial struggles have long-been documented and they have incorporated a number of economic ‘levers’ in recent times to generate income, such as selling portions of their merchandising company.

Hansi Flick’s side had been hoping to sign another winger this summer, with Nico Williams the club’s top target, however Barcelona have been unable to afford his €60 million release clause, while the player is happy to stay at Athletic Bilbao.

Milan’s Rafael Leao was another player under consideration but neither will be possible this summer, with Marca reporting that Barca’s next deal with Nike will not be concluded until next month.

The sponsorship would have allowed Barca to make a big signing but any income generated will now instead be used in the winter.

There had also been negotiations to sell ‘Barca Vision’, another part of the club’s brand, but a delay in funds has also put that deal on hold, leaving the La Liga giants likely to end the window with no additional arrivals.

© IMAGO - Barcelona had been hoping to sign Nico Williams this summer.

Barcelona set to juggle squad until January

Barcelona’s only major signing this summer has been Dani Olmo, however the €55m man missed the first two games of the La Liga season due to the club being unable to register his salary.

Olmo was eventually able to be registered and the 26-year-old scored on his debut against Rayo Vallecano but Barca were only able to add him to the squad after removing Andreas Christensen from it.

Christensen is set to miss a portion of the season with injury and the defender will be left out of Barca’s squad until January, at which point they hope to be able to afford to register him.

Barca had tried to sign Liverpool’s Stefan Bajcetic on loan after seeing Marc Bernal pick up a serious injury but they were also unable to afford the move, prompting the midfielder to join RB Salzburg.