Laporta offers transfer update as Barcelona seek to return to ‘1-1 rule’

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has offered an update on the club’s financial situation ahead of the summer transfer window.

There have been reports Barca are hoping to sign under the 1:1 rule again this summer and want to bring in Bernardo Silva from Manchester City.

Laporta says the club are still working hard and are hoping they will be able to add players in the summer.

“We are working to try to achieve the 1:1 rule to be able to incorporate players,” he told a press conference.

“The other day La Liga congratulated us for the efforts we are making to reduce the wage bill. At this end of the season we are pushing for operations to get to the 1:1.

“At the moment there is no approval from La Liga. We are on the right path. There are three basic tenets: the economic recovery of the club, Espai Barca; which is already taking shape and by December we could return home, and the senior football team.

“There are a series of operations with Barca Vision or with the kit sponsor. La Liga’s calculations are that this season or next we will be fine with ‘fair play’. Today we are still in a process of economic recovery that does not allow us to do so, it depends on what deals we do.”

Xavi is believed to be keen to add to the squad in the close season but it still remains to be seen how much Barca will have to spend over the summer.