FC Barcelona is trying to overcome its financial fair play issues to register Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor. However, it doesn't neglect its purchasing department. Deco is working hard in the market he knows best.
Portugal and Brazil are the two markets where Deco has a knack for finding good, attractive, and affordable players. Right now, Portugal is home to one of the most sought-after players in European soccer.
He has Scored More Goals Than Lewandowski, Haaland and Kane
It's the Swedish forward Viktor Gyökeres, who ranks among the top European scorers in the Golden Boot standings.
Only the lower value of goals in the Portuguese League keeps him from the top spot of this award. He has scored the same number of goals as the leader, Mohamed Salah. Then, two more than Lewandowski and four more than Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
For months, FC Barcelona has been closely monitoring the progress of the Swedish forward. It's Deco's bet over Haaland. He believes Gyökeres has less media impact, but his performance is similar and his price more affordable.
In the price comes financial engineering and imaginative measures from a club that can't even register the players already on its roster.
Deco is negotiating with Sporting Portugal based on two proposals that are well-received by the Portuguese club.
Barça's Formula to Sign Gyökeres
FC Barcelona would gift Sporting 50% of the rights it still holds for Francisco Trincão.
On the other hand, FC Barcelona would transfer the entire contract of Vitor Roque to Sporting, making him their property. The two proposals from the blaugrana are pleasing to the Portuguese club, making the path to an agreement closer than ever.
Sporting Portugal has valued its player at 80 million euros, which Barcelona would renegotiate down to 60 million fixed plus 20 in variables.
The 60 million fixed would be the value the club assigns to 50% of Trincão and 100% of Vitor Roque. Barça would only have to pay the 20 million in variables, but only if a series of objectives are met.
Golden Boot Standings as of Today
1.-Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) 18 goals, 34 points
2.-Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona): 16 goals, 32 points
3.-Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 14 goals, 28 points
5.- Erling Haaland (Manchester City): 14 goals, 28 points
6.- Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting Portugal): 18 goals, 27 points