The transfer speculation surrounding Josip Juranovic took a huge turn this afternoon when Sky Sports Dharmesh Seth and Anthony Joseph both claimed that the Croatian is Barcelona’s ‘number one target’.
The report published this afternoon is the kind of story you only read in fairytales. Especially where Juranovic is concerned.
The defender started his career in the Croatian third tier and was noticed by Hadjuk Split in 2014 where they signed him in 2015.
After 135 appearances for the club, he earned a move to Legia Warsaw where after just one season, he was spotted by Celtic and became one of Ange Postecoglou’s first signings.
A league title, league cup and a World Cup campaign later, Juranovic is now one of the hottest properties in European football with the Catalan giants now being tipped to sign him from Celtic.
But this flies in the face of a report by The Scottish Daily Express. The report says the Barca President has possibly ruled out the purchase of Juranovic as the club battle Financial Fair Play regulations from Spain’s governing body.
According to the Scottish Daily Express, Laporta said, “We had to make some levers, which were economic operations that saved the club from ruin, and now the club is in economic recovery.
“But despite that, according to the rules of financial fair play of the Spanish league, we cannot sign.
“Us and some other La Liga clubs are also trying to convince La Liga to be more flexible, and allow us other types of interpretations that can make Barcelona even stronger.”
So quite why they are favourites after these comments really surprise me.
But you never know in this game.
If La Liga do change its financial constraints, Juranovic could be in line for a move that even he wouldn’t have dared dream about.