MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 23:40:41| >> :120:4153:4153:

Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona's plans for summer transfer window

Laporta confirms Barcelona's plans for summer transfer window
© Reuters
Barcelona president Joan Laporta says that the club want to "strengthen the defence, the midfield, and the attack" this summer.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has revealed that his club are planning to "strengthen the defence, the midfield, and the attack" during this summer's transfer window.

The Catalan giants secured their position as La Liga champions for the 2022-23 campaign with four games to spare courtesy of their 4-2 win over Espanyol on Sunday night.

After the Barcelona derby, Laporta confirmed that Lionel Messi is a target for the club, with the Argentina international's contract at Paris Saint-Germain due to expire at the end of June.

Barcelona's financial problems could make it a difficult market, with the club needing to make room in their budget to register new players.

However, Laporta has confirmed that the newly-crowned La Liga champions are planning to strengthen all outfield positions in the upcoming market.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta pictured on August 5, 2022© Reuters

"We have to work to have a more competitive team. We are happy with the team but we think it can be improved. We do it with a view to competing in the Champions League," Laporta told TV3.

"We will strengthen the defence, the midfield, and the attack. We are ready to sign and it depends on La Liga approving it."

As well as Messi, Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan is being linked with a move to Camp Nou, in addition to ex-Barcelona attacker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is set to leave Chelsea.

Xavi's future has also been discussed by Laporta, with the manager's current deal due to expire next June.

Barcelona coach Xavi before the match on April 26, 2023© Reuters

The 43-year-old has now won two titles since returning to Camp Nou as head coach, having also lifted the Spanish Super Cup earlier this year.

"We want this to be the start of more titles and to bring joy back to Barcelona fans," Laporta added. "The players, Xavi, the coaching staff and in general the whole club have done an extraordinary job.

"We agreed to talk about it (Xavi's contract) at the end of the season. I understand that there will be no problem because Xavi is a club man.

"Xavi was clear that he wanted to be the coach of Barca. Maybe more than me. It has a lot of points in common from [Pep] Guardiola's era."

Barcelona now have four pressure-free La Liga matches to finish their 2022-23 season, facing Real Sociedad, Real Valladolid, Mallorca and Celta Vigo.

ID:513894:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4130:

Click here for more stories about Joan Laporta

Click here for more stories about Chelsea

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal on April 8, 2023
Read Next:
Laporta confirms Barcelona are working to re-sign Messi
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!