Barcelona and Liverpool’s fates in the transfer market could become closely intertwined this summer, according to latest reports.
The Spanish giants were hamstrung by around £1bn in debt last summer, which ultimately led to Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann leaving the club as Barcelona were forced to reduce their wage bill. However, a new influx of money has now entered the Camp Nou through their recent sponsorship deal with Spotify .
Barcelona boss Xavi already worked to bring in a new frontline consisting of Ferran Torres, Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January - but there could possibly be more high-profile names on the way. And several of them have Liverpool connections.
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A report from The Express claims that the Catalan club will target both Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland, having also allegedly agreed a five-year deal with Leeds forward Raphinha. It is suggested that the Brazilian’s agent Deco, who won the Champions League with Barcelona in his playing days, helped speed up negotiations, despite the 44-year-old confirming Liverpool’s interest in his client , back in October.
As for Salah , his ongoing contract negotiations with Liverpool have led to rumours surrounding potential suitors for the Egyptian forward. The Express highlighted a report from Spanish outlet AS that suggested that the Liverpool talisman could be the “star” goalscorer that Barcelona have been looking for, if they fail to land Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
Salah has also been linked with a move to Juventus in recent weeks, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp forced to give an update on the status of the contract talks earlier this month. The 29-year-old has previously spoken about his desire to stay with the Reds but his current deal is still set to expire in 2023.
"We cannot do much more, that's how it is,” Jurgen Klopp said when asked about Salah’s future . “But I don't think it's about that (ambitions). It's Mo's decision pretty much. The club did what the club can do. That's how it is. Nothing bad to say about it. It's fine from my point of view.”
However, the Express explains that Barcelona are hoping to target both Salah and Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland in a bid to revolutionise the team’s fortunes. The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to Liverpool in the past and is set to become part of a transfer saga, with it widely reported that the Norwegian striker has a release clause that will come into play this summer.
Having scored 80 goals in 82 games for Dortmund since signing in January 2020, Haaland recently gave an insight into his mindset as speculation around his future continues to grow. “The last six months, I have chosen not to say anything out of respect for Dortmund," the striker said.
“But now the club has started to pressure me into making a decision, but all I want to do is to play football. But they press me to make a decision now about my future. So that means I have to make a decision soon. I have said from the beginning that I want to focus on football because that is when I am at my best, not when other things come into my mind."
