Joan Laporta confirms Barcelona's plans for summer transfer window

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.

© 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.

© 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.