Barcelona line up Lionel Messi, Inigo Martinez, Ilkay Gundogan and Bruno Guimaraes for summer spree – Paper Round

Barcelona want three free transfers

Lionel Messi leads the list of free transfers that Barcelona are aiming for as they look to strengthen ahead of next season under Xavi Hernandez.

Despite winning La Liga this year, they remain in financial difficulties, so they need to keep their spending down and if they can avoid transfer fees, that will help.

“Making it happen will not be easy and depend largely on how much slack they are cut by La Liga and how successful their attempts at selling players are.

“The club have to make up a £174million [€200m] deficit in order to move with freedom in the transfer market, free from the shackles of La Liga’s 40 per cent rule that will otherwise oblige them to spend only £35million [€40m] of every £100million they bring in by either increasing revenue or reducing costs.”

Barcelona set to spend big for Guimaraes

Fresh from helping Newcastle United secure Champions League football, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaeraes is a big-money target for Barcelona.

The Sun reports that the Spanish champions hope to bring in the Brazilian to reinforce their squad, which could help Newcastle balance their books.

“The Catalan giants believe that the Brazilian ace can help catapult them back into Champions League contention.

“Selling Guimaraes would help Newcastle further strengthen their squad within the parameters of Financial Fair Play.

“And they would expect to command a club-record fee for a sale should they let him depart.

“Barca accept that Guimaraes is likely to cost around £87million to prise away from the Toon.”

Maguire set for Serie A move

After Chris Smalling, Harry Maguire could become the latest English Manchester United defender to find a new home in Serie A.

“Out-of-favour Manchester United defender Harry Maguire wants more starts next season after being linked with a loan move to either one of four Italian giants.” the report claims.

“Juventus, AC Milan, Inter and Roma have all been tipped to make a move for Maguire, who’s ended up as fifth-choice centre-back under manager Erik ten Hag. The England international, 30, was handed a rare start by Ten Hag for Sunday’s 2-1 win at home to Fulham which confirmed a third-place finish for United, as the Premier League campaign drew to a close.”

Ten Hag wants more money

Erik ten Hag noted that other teams in the league spent big this season, and that had cost him the signature of Cody Gakpo, and that Newcastle had also outspent him in the winter, as did Arsenal and Chelsea.

The Telegraph reports that Ten Hag hopes for more investment this summer, which should help him secure Harry Kane.

“Ten Hag wants to add Harry Kane, the £100 million Tottenham striker, among others, but there is not thought to be a great deal of optimism within the corridors of power that a deal can be done for the England captain at this stage.”