Barcelona have announced that they have sold 15 percent of their La Liga TV rights to global investment firm Sixth Street, raising a reported €300million (£255million) for the club. That now takes the percentage of their sold TV rights up to 25 percent, having already sold ten percent of that before the latest investment.
It gives the Catalonian outfit a short-term reprieve from their difficult financial situation, having amounted severe debt under previous presidential regimes. Current President Joan Laporta has looked to reverse this through financing in the current situation to allow them to be successful on the pitch once again.
This has seen them take to the transfer market in aggressive fashion, already adding a number of free transfers to their ranks. Chelsea of all sides know plenty about battling the Spanish side in the window too, having lost out on both Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski so far.
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The crossing of paths seems unlikely to stop just there though as not only players on the market appear to be of interest to the teams, but each other's players do too. Blues duo Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso have been heavily linked with a switch to the Nou Camp this summer as they approach their final year under contract.
Barca have agreed a fee with Manchester United for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, however the player seems reluctant to move to the Red Devils. That could see Chelsea swoop in, having been linked with the Netherlands international, who currently takes up a large chunk of the club's La Liga wage cap.
Then there is the battle for other players remaining, most notably Sevilla defender Jules Kounde. The Frenchman has been a target of Thomas Tuchel's for over one-year now and football.london understands a bid is expected this week with personal terms already agreed.
However, Barcelona could ruin all that, should they act on reported interest in the 23-year-old. Their boost in finances could give them the leverage they need to impact plenty of the decisions surrounding the Blues this window.
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