Barcelona are reportedly giving “serious consideration” to signing Jorge Salinas from Racing Santander for a fee of €8 million, according to Fabrizio Romano. The 19-year-old left-back impressed in LaLiga 2 last season, making 33 appearances as Racing secured promotion to LaLiga for the first time in over a decade.
Salinas contributed significantly to Racing’s attack, registering seven assists from his defensive position. He is also a physically imposing player capable of playing at centre-back, offering versatility that appeals to Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. The potential acquisition comes as Barcelona are actively reshaping their squad following the return to a 1:1 revenue reinvestment model.
Barcelona have already completed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle for €80 million and made Hamza Abdelkarim’s loan from Al-Ahly permanent. The club remains heavily invested in pursuing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, having seen a €100 million bid rejected, but continuing talks with the player’s representatives. Alvarez is reportedly keen on the move, though focused on the upcoming World Cup.
While pursuing high-profile targets, Barcelona’s interest in Salinas represents a shift towards identifying promising young talent at a reasonable price. The player’s release clause of €8 million makes him an attractive option, though Romano stresses that a deal is not yet completed. Salinas is understood to be eager to join the reigning LaLiga champions.
The signing could impact Barcelona’s current left-back options. Alejandro Balde currently occupies the position, with Gerard Martin and Joao Cancelo also capable of playing there. Barcelona are in negotiations with Al-Hilal regarding a permanent deal for Cancelo, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at the club. Interest in Salinas suggests Barcelona may be preparing for either Cancelo’s departure or a potential sale of Balde, who has been linked with moves away after a less impactful 2023/24 season.
