According to Sport, Barcelona's second summer signing will be Racing Santander defender Salinas.
The report states that Salinas is one of Racing Santander's key players, having helped the team earn promotion to La Liga. He made 33 appearances in the league this season, providing 7 assists, and his performances have attracted interest from several clubs. Barcelona is set to win this transfer race, with both parties planning to complete the signing before June 30. Barcelona has beaten out several Spanish clubs and Premier League teams for his signature, and the player himself is keen to join Barcelona. Barcelona also enjoys a strong relationship with his agent, Jorge Mendes, who traveled to Santander recently to accelerate negotiations.
Barcelona views signing Salinas as a market opportunity. The player primarily operated as a left-back this season but was originally developed as a left-footed center-back and can play in that position as well. At just 19 years old, the transfer fee is modest. Racing Santander values Salinas's release clause at 8 million euros. Although registered with the B team, he has featured significantly with the first team. Mendes has briefed Barcelona on the situation, and the club hopes to reach an agreement with Racing Santander without triggering the full release clause. Barcelona's sporting department plans to use a B team player who might interest Racing Santander in a loan arrangement to reduce the 8 million euros fee.
The deal must be finalized before June 30, as Salinas's release clause rises to 16 million euros from July 1, a sum Barcelona is unwilling to pay. The defender's contract with Racing Santander runs until 2029.
Salinas has agreed to join Barcelona after learning the sporting department intends for him to participate in pre-season training with the first team under Flick and be included in next season's squad. The Spanish U19 international fits the club's needs well; his positional versatility as both a winger and center-back makes him a valuable addition.
Salinas's arrival does not signal Barcelona is abandoning pursuit of Cancelo. The Portuguese full-back is currently competing in the World Cup and has impressed since joining on loan from Al Hilal in January. He remains a clear target for Barcelona's sporting department, though they must negotiate with the Saudi club to secure a permanent deal. Cancelo's ability to play on both flanks adds another dimension to Barcelona's defensive options.
If both Salinas and Cancelo arrive, Flick will have four full-backs at his disposal. With Gerard Martín increasingly deployed as a center-back by the German coach, Koundé and Balde will rotate alongside the two new arrivals. Eric García has also impressed on the right side of defense, while Javi Espart, Torrents, and Héctor Fort—returning from a loan spell at Elche—provide additional depth. This abundance of options suggests significant changes to the position this summer.