Barcelona ‘Working’ on First Summer Signing, Deco Addresses Julian Alvarez Links

Barcelona sporting director Deco has acknowledged that the club is already laying groundwork for its first arrival of the coming summer window, even as he cautioned that formal negotiations with other teams remain on hold. According to a report in SPORT, the Catalans have opened discussions with the representatives of on-loan forward Marcus Rashford aimed at converting his temporary stay into a permanent transfer.

The English international’s camp, led by agent Arturo Canales, met with Barça officials to explore a three-year deal that would spread the cost of the €30 million buy clause inserted in the January loan agreement. Rashford’s wages at Manchester United are deemed prohibitive given Barcelona’s delicate financial position, but both parties share a “common desire” to find a formula that satisfies the club, the player and the Premier League side, which is insisting on the full fee.

Despite the economic hurdles, the potential capture of Rashford for €30 million is viewed internally as a rare market opportunity amid spiralling prices across Europe. Yet the 26-year-old is not the only striker on the club’s radar. Persistent speculation has paired Barcelona with Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, the Argentina World Cup winner whose valuation would dwarf the Rashford option and require what sources describe as a “gargantuan” financial outlay.

Deco, speaking after a visit to presidential candidate Joan Laporta’s campaign headquarters, attempted to temper expectations surrounding Álvarez and any other big-ticket moves.

“First of all, we haven’t spoken to any club, to any player,” the Portuguese director stated. “We haven’t talked about any topic because I don’t think now is the time. Regardless of us liking a player, now is not the moment to be talking about players [on other teams], we have our team, our squad, we are happy.”

Pressed on the Alvarez links, Deco added: “There are many players that we like, we’ll see. We have two strikers currently, Ferran [Torres] has converted into a nine over the last two years since [Hansi] Flick arrived and he has goals and numbers. Robert [Lewandowski] continues to be important for us, he’s nearing the end of his deal but it’s still not the time to make decisions.”

The sporting director’s public stance underscores Barcelona’s intention to keep the focus on the current campaign, yet the behind-the-scenes activity on Rashford illustrates that planning for 2025-26 is well under way. The eventual shape of the squad could hinge on events off the pitch: club members vote for a new president on 9 March, and if Laperta is defeated, Deco conceded that his own future could be re-evaluated.

“I’m on Joan’s project because it’s something I believe in,” Deco said. “I’ve left many things in order to be here, starting with a period of reconstruction and now we are in a phase of consolidating things. But in the end, the most important thing is the club.”

Until the electoral outcome is known, Barcelona will continue to work within their financial constraints, prioritising creative contract structures and targeted acquisitions. Whether that strategy yields Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis—or a shock swoop for Julián Álvarez—will dominate the narrative once the summer market officially opens.