Barcelona’s Final Pre-Season Push: Olmo Exit & Vlahovic Chase Dominate Headlines
With the 2025–26 La Liga season days away, champions Barcelona are fine-tuning preparations ahead of their opener against Mallorca. While manager Hansi Flick works on the pitch, the club’s sporting department is weighing key transfer decisions that could define both their title defence and long-term future.
One of the biggest talking points is Tottenham’s strong pursuit of Dani Olmo. The Spanish playmaker was pivotal last season, contributing 12 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances. Spurs, seeking a replacement for the injured James Maddison, are reportedly ready to table a €70 million bid. Barcelona’s tight financial situation means such an offer could be tempting, especially with Gavi nearing full recovery and young Fermin López emerging as a reliable option.
On the incoming side, the Blaugrana are pushing to secure Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, who turns 37 next week and is in the final year of his contract. Vlahovic, also in the last year of his deal, is available for transfer but commands a high salary that could complicate negotiations.
Barcelona’s summer has already seen notable arrivals, including goalkeeper Joan García (Espanyol), teenage winger Roony Bardghji (Copenhagen), and the surprise loan signing of Marcus Rashford (Manchester United). Meanwhile, sales of Alex Valle, Pau Victor, and Pablo Torre have brought in funds and kept the squad lean.
The off-field atmosphere has been mixed—goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen briefly lost and regained the captaincy due to a medical consent dispute—but on the pitch, optimism is high after a 5–0 Joan Gamper Trophy win over Como.
As the window closes, two questions loom: Will Barcelona cash in on Olmo to ease financial strain? And can they land Vlahovic to spearhead the post-Lewandowski era? The answers will shape not just this season’s title defence, but the club’s strategic direction for years to come.
