Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Top Targets Ahead of Summer Window

Celta Vigo striker Nolito has hinted he could still make his return to Barcelona, after coming close to a Catalonia comeback during the winter transfer window. Plus, the Blaugrana will battle Real Madrid to sign Benfica's Victor Lindelof.

Nolito was speculated to be on the brink of a move back to the Camp Nou in January, and despite the transfer collapsing, he told Spanish website Weloba.cat he isn't bitter about the failed move (h/t Goal's Dom Farrell):

"

I'm not mad or anything with Barca, these are things that happen. I am a person who is not angry and I always try to get away from these things. In life you do not know what can happen. One day you are [Diego] Maradona and the other you're a turd!

[...]

Iunderstand that Barca fans appreciate me. I was three years and Barca B and went to the first team.

The club has given me good moments, the opportunity to make my debut in a team like Barca was my dream and I wish them well.    

"

One can hardly blame Nolito for being happy where he is, considering it's with Celta the 29-year-old has discovered the best form of his career after struggling to crack Barca's first team between 2008 and 2011.

However, while he may be happy to remain in his current setting, the forward elaborated on his situation, teeing up Euro 2016 as his greatest priority, before refusing to rule out a Barcelona return in future:

"

I have a three-year contract with Celta and I am very happy. I will not focus on anything other than the Euros because it is nonsense, the [transfer window] is very long. Now they will begin speculation and I try to disconnect from everything. What has to happen will happen.

"

It was during the winter transfer window that Goal's Ignasi Oliva reported Barca didn't have the cash to make any major moves, but that situation might have changed heading into the summer window.

Whats more, the Blaugrana's budget has just taken an extreme turn for the better after the Telegraph reported the club has agreed a new £120 million-per-season kit deal with Nike, giving the Spanish giants some substantial transfer funding:

Los Azulgranas may well look to splash some of that new-found cash on the signature of Benfica defender Lindelof, after Spanish newspaper AS reported they lead the race for his signature alongside Real (h/t the Mirror's Ed Malyon).

As mentioned by Malyon, it was only in January the centre-back was being linked with a move to Championship side Middlesbrough, but the Gazette's Dominic Shaw illustrated how his career has improved since then:

It was after the winter transfer window Lindelof made his break into Benfica's first team, and he's gone on to impress enough that AS claimed the Eagles have slapped a €40 million (£31 million) price on his head.

Spanish daily Sport recently reported Barca incumbent Marc Bartra could be set to leave the Camp Nou this summer, with Valencia interested, and 21-year-old Lindelof could well be a younger upgrade on the Spain defender.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images

Barca stand to free up some funds, too, if reports of Arda Turan's availability prove true, with manager Luis Enrique ready to sell the winger after he made just nine league starts for the club.

That's according to the Sun's Geoff Sweet, who said Turan's work rate in particular has been scrutinised since his move to Catalan country, although OptaCan attests to his passing ratio as one of the finest in sight:

Sweet reported Turan has been listed just a year after officially moving to the Camp Nou, although Barcelona's 2015 transfer embargo meant he wasn't permitted to register for the club until January 2016.

At 29 years of age, Turan's sell-on value may no longer be as high as it once was, but Barca nonetheless stand to recoup a decent chunk of their £26 million outlay for the player if they indeed decide to sell this summer.