Barcelona’s summer business is one of the most reported in the media because the Catalan club have been dealing with a financial crisis the likes the club have never seen in their history.
Several of the players who the club have been linked to are pricey and the jury is out on how many of their targets they can sign in the summer.
Two signings have been confirmed, however. AC Milan’s Franck Kessie and Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen are going to be Barcelona players in the summer. Both players will be leaving their current clubs on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Kessie will be replacing Sergio Busquets, who will be leaving the club at the end of next season, in the pivot role for the foreseeable future while Christensen is a backup option as the club prepares to let Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet go in the summer.
New reports now claim that the five-time UEFA Champions League winners could face some economic challenges in completing the deals for Kessie and Christensen. This is according to Spanish journalist Gerard Romero, who claims that the deals for both players hinge on Barcelona‘s ability to seal their investment deal with private equity firm CVC Capital.
Barcelona are expecting to seal an investment of €270 million from the firm in exchange for part of their audiovisual rights for the next 50 years. Romero reports that the deal is stalling and that the worst case scenario will affect a lot of the club’s plans for the summer.
One of such plans is the signing of Leeds United’s Brazilian winger Raphinha, who will cost the club €40 million.
The Brazilian joined the Premier League side in 2020 from French Ligue 1 club Stade Rennais. He has been impressive in a league which prioritises running and pressing over skill-based football and has attracted suitors from all across Europe.
Barcelona are his next destination as the player has expressed a desire to only turn out for the Catalan giants among his suitors. The club will also be hoping that Leeds get relegated because his €40 million asking price could drop to as little as €25 million. Raphinha, however, is not looking to let that happen.
According to Spanish outlet SPORT, the 25-year-old is grateful to the Yorkshire-based outfit for taking a chance on him and wants to help them maintain their Premier League status.
But it all depends on if Barcelona can seal their CVC deal before the summer.
