The summer transfer window is officially heating up in Catalonia as FC Barcelona Sporting Director Deco continues to work his magic on an under-the-radar signing. According to Ferran Correas of SPORT, that Racing Santander’s prized asset Jorge Salinas has landed on the Barcelona shortlist. No agreement has yet been reached but the 19-year-old is firmly under consideration for Hansi Flick’s squad for next season.
Who is Jorge Salinas?
For those who are perhaps unaware, Racing’s young breakout star has been identified as exactly the profile Barca need in the current setup. A versatile left-sided defender, the 19-year-old has predominantly played at left-back in a dynamic and energetic system but also possesses the ability to play as centre-back too.
Due to the star performances he has put in for Racing Santander over the last few seasons, his ability has also alerted the attentions of top European sides. Crucially the reports confirm the player wants the switch and prefers a dream move to Camp Nou over many other attractive offers.
Deco’s masterclass: The 8 million release clause
The greatest advantage in the negotiation process comes down to the release clause in the player’s contract. Salinas is currently under contract with the Racing Santander first team with an incredibly reasonable release clause in the region of €8 million. Even considering his immeasurable potential this release clause represents a total bargain for a top tier Spanish defender with his ceiling.
However, Deco looks intent on getting even smarter with the money available at his disposal, using creative financing in the form of a Barca Atletic youngster to go on loan at the Cantabrian club to bring down the upfront transfer fee. This sort of pragmatic and astute squad building is precisely what is required at Barcelona.
The Hansi Flick plan
Perhaps what makes this particular potential deal most exciting is the potential role it holds for the player moving forward. The club, if the deal is completed, aims for Salinas to undergo a full pre-season with Hansi Flick’s squad before he is fully integrated into the first team squad as part of their registered squad for the coming season.
Therefore it does not impact the team in any ongoing moves for senior figures such as Joao Cancelo. The capture of a top quality Spanish talent for an exceptionally small price will likely align with many of Joan Laporta’s stated intentions and should be one to keep a very close eye on.
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