Barcelona's new president Joan Laporta will reportedly rival Real Madrid as he looks to sign David Alaba and Erling Haaland this summer despite the staggering figures of debt he will inherit at the club.
Laporta, who was president from 2003-2010, won a second-term on Sunday via a landslide election victory - with 54 per cent of the 55,611 votes cast.
His main priority lies in trying to keep Lionel Messi beyond this summer but Spanish outlet AS report that the 58-year-old lawyer has already met with the agent of Bayern Munich defender Alaba and is a huge fan of Borussia Dortmund forward Haaland, with a keen interest in bringing both Bundesliga-based players to Barca.
However, that is despite the club having a €1.2bn (£1bn) gross debt and €266m (£222m) of that is payable to various financial institutions by June 30 - Laporta will need to sit down with creditors to renegotiate repayments.
AS run with the headline 'The Fight Starts' in reference to Laporta targeting Alaba and Haaland in a bidding war with fierce rivals Real Madrid and his opposite number Florentino Perez.
The report details that Laporta met with Alaba's representatives, Pini Zahavi and Fali Ramadani, last Wednesday, with the lawyer maintaining a good relationship with Zahavi in particular.
The Austrian has already confirmed he will leave the Allianz Arena on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Laporta is also said to have a 'fluid relationship' with super-agent Mino Raiola, who represents Norwegian hitman Haaland.
Alaba and Haaland came up against each other at the weekend, as Bayern beat Dortmund 4-2 despite two early goals from the 20-year-old striker.
The paper also compares the situation to the beginning of Laporta's first tenure in charge, when he campaigned on a promise to bring David Beckham to the Nou Camp, but instead he went to Madrid, with Barca bringing in Samuel Eto'o.
Club captain Messi was among the 50,000 members who voted in Sunday's election.
jesalam14
811
sometimes to win something u have to loose something that's a big step all barca fans want they suffered a lot I really pity how barca loose a lot of Money on a wasted project keep the work on LAPORTA MAKE BARCA GRATE AGAIN From the Biggest Madrid fan💯 to my biggest rival. let's be stronger guys... and makes classico grate again💕
LamineDembouz11
710
Real football Fans won't skip without👍 💙❤💥 #footballchallenge
Zadeenyero10
325
Me trying to Calculate how LARPOTA can bring HALLAND and ALABA in this Situation.
Rohcdiopsy
119
With Perez at Madrid and Laporta at Barcelona the La Liga brand will be rejuvenated and bring it to the state it was before the coronavirus struck although it will require a lot of hard work and dedication. The first task will be to dismantle the choking heavy debt meaning expansion of stadiums in Madrid and Barcelona has to be put on freeze, putting a halt to players wages constantly being axed because that will not attract top rated players and finally recapitalisation and injection of a new lease of life and confidence in the Castilla and La Masia academies. Where there's a will there's always a way.