Transfer Talk: Barca plan to sign five star players this summer

Barcelona have finalized a list of five key summer transfer targets, which includes three Premier League stars.

The Catalan club are set to undergo a major squad overhaul in the coming weeks as they seek to bridge the gap to LaLiga and Champions League winners Real Madrid.

And according to Marca, Camp Nou chiefs have a clear strategy as to how they plan to restructure Xavi’s team.

A deal for Robert Lewandowski remains their primary objective, with the Polish marksman making clear his intentions to leave Bayern Munich.

Leeds winger Raphinha is a second attacking priority, although the West Yorkshire outfit are set to demand a significant fee to acquire the Brazilian’s services.

Chelsea duo Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta are the preferred defensive recruits, along with Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde.

The French international underwent surgery on a pelvis injury this week, but Barca’s LaLiga rivals will still expect a substantial transfer fee of around £55million. 

Agreements are already in place to bring Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessie and Danish defender Andreas Christensen to the club on free transfers.

In other news

Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest are plotting a triple swoop to bolster their squad ahead of a first Premier League campaign in 23 years.

Forest are looking to meet the release clause of Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi, set at £17.2m, with the Guardian also reporting the East Midlands club are interested in Mainz centre-back Moussa Niakhate and Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

The Sun claim Tottenham will have to table an offer of £34m to bring Leverkusen centre-back Piero Hincapie to North London.

Finally, Fabrizio Romano understands Manchester City will soon open negotiations with Leeds to sign midfielder Kalvin Phillips.