Barcelona may not pursue moves for Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe if it put the club "at risk" claims president Joan Laporta.
The Nou Camp chief returned for a second term last year and has set about rebuilding a club that had lost their way on the pitch and face huge debts off it. Xavi has been hired and looks to be getting a tune out of the current crop following some shrewd January recruitment.
But several huge names will be available in the summer transfer market and, over the years, Barcelona would firmly be in the race. Mbappe's PSG contract is due to expire and Real Madrid are favourites to land the World Cup winner for nothing. Haaland meanwhile will be available for less than £70m and has suitors from around Europe.
Barcelona were forced to let Lionel Messi leave last summer and are currently without a true marquee name despite having some stellar academy graduates in their ranks. Laporta has spoken about the need to balance the books but will want to remain competitive with Barcelona currently participating in the Europa League.
Laporta was asked about a potential swoop for Mbappe and told Mundo Deportivo : "Here everyone is free to launch messages and proclamations and we already know that this is part of the world of football, that the big clubs are interested in great players. But I'm not going to enter, and you have to allow me not to talk about players because if I do, the only thing I can do is harm the interests of our club.
"If we talk about a player and we had the intention of signing him, we would increase the price. Neither with this player nor with others do I want to comment on issues because it would harm the interests of the club. The technical secretary and sports management are working to improve our squad, which is getting better and better, we are more and more satisfied.
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"I want it to be clearly understood that we prioritise the team above all else, a reinforced team in each of its lines and what we do not participate in is elevating players or looking for players who are more than the team. What we want to strengthen is the team we have that plays based on a genuine Barca system.
"The club thinks that this is what the football team needs, this genuine style that for me is the key to everything and is what we have to do, a team that can play this system with highly talented players." He then added when quizzed specifically on Haaland: "I insist, I will not talk about specific players but I can tell you that we will not carry out any operation that puts the institution at risk."
Mbappe and Haaland will be command huge sums, especially when it comes to wages, but Laporta made it clear that any player who wants to head to Barcelona will have to fall in line with their financial model. He said: "They will have to adapt to the salary levels of Barça and to an economic structure of the operation that maintains the sustainability and balance of the club."
