Spanish giants Barcelona are strategising player sales to address financial woes and bolster their squad ahead next season.
Barcelona have been trying their best to cope with their financial crisis and despite all their efforts since the return of Joan Laporta back in 2021, they still have a lot to take care of. Their net financial debt was not the only headache for Laporta and his men, the Catalan giants also owed huge sums in transfer fee instalments, back tax, and deferred wages amongst a few other concerns.
In short, Laporta was given the command of a sinking ship, but he has managed to keep it afloat. Not only that, he has managed to improve their situation manifold. But, a lot still needs to be done and as a result, Barcelona will only have limited room to make signings in the summer.
The Blaugrana will most probably look to raise funds by offloading players to reinforce their squad. The idea is to raise as much money as possible without doing much damage to the current squad and making room for new arrivals.
Barcelona will have to sell some important players if they want to sign in the summer.
— @sport pic.twitter.com/jvbK5c33Ym
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) February 10, 2024
The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at their squad and tries to figure out players that they can part ways with in the summer. Here is a list of five players that might be shown the exit door ahead of next season.
Raphinha
The Catalan giants signed Raphinha in the summer of 2022 from Leeds United after his impressive rise in the English top flight. Despite struggling with finances, Laporta and his men found a way to land him at the club, and he has been doing a great job since arriving in Spain.
While he has struggled with fitness, and the emergence of Lamine Yamal has affected his game time, the 27-year-old still has impressive numbers. He has been on the pitch for over 1,300 minutes in 28 appearances and has contributed towards 15 goals.
Raphinha’s impressive performances and Barcelona’s financial situation have resulted in interest in the Brazil international’s services. Multiple top clubs from across the world are interested in him. Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United have all been linked with the 27-year-old.
As per reports, the Catalan giants could look to sanction his departure to raise funds. With Yamal expected to be their preferred choice on the right flank for years to come cashing in on the Brazilian will surely make sense. Apart from the interest from English clubs, there is a Saudi Arabian club that has already put forward an offer worth €80 million for his services.
Jules Kounde
Raphinha was not the only major signing from the summer of 2022. The Catalan giants were quite impressed with Kounde’s performances at Sevilla, and they decided to go all out to add him to their ranks.
The 25-year-old defender has put in some exceptional performances for the Spanish giants since arriving at the club. He helped them clinch the league title last season with consistent displays at the back. While Kounde’s performances have been top-notch, his reluctance to play as a right-back is something that bothers Barcelona.
Despite his desire to feature in the heart of the defence, around half of his appearances this season have come as a right-sided full-back. And, due to the never-ending financial crisis, Kounde’s future has been uncertain for a while now.
There is interest from multiple top clubs from across Europe. Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and PSG have all been linked with the versatile defender, who has been a consistent performer for the Spanish giants in the recent past.
17-year-old Pau Cubarsi’s impressive rise and Eric Garcia’s consistent display in the heart of the defence while on loan at Girona suggests they will be well covered in defence even if they sanction his departure. They have placed a €60 million price tag on him, and that kind of fee will surely help them further reinforce their squad.
Oriol Romeu
Former Barcelona youth product Romeu was resigned by the club ahead of the ongoing season to help them cope with the departure of Sergio Busquets. He was supposed to be a short-term fix for the club but unfortunately, the 32-year-old has not been able to deliver.
Romeu started the season as one of the first-choice midfielders but has fallen down the pecking order since. While he has featured in 31 matches, the majority of his appearances have come off the bench and he has racked up less than 1,300 minutes of first-team football.
His contract might run until the summer of 2026, but his future at the club seems uncertain. The Catalan giants are unlikely to keep him in their ranks beyond this season. While his departure won’t raise that big a fee, it will help their wage bill and will make room for a new arrival in the centre of the park.
Napoli are one of the clubs interested in the 32-year-old. They are looking to reinforce their midfield and the former Girona star is a player they admire. As a result, they could push for him in the summer.
Sergino Dest
Dest joined Barcelona back in 2020 after coming up the ranks at Ajax. Unfortunately, the move never really worked out for him. He was out on loan at AC Milan last season but only had limited opportunities there. He featured in 14 matches and was on the pitch for less than 700 minutes.
The American international decided to return to the Netherlands ahead of the ongoing season. He secured a loan move to PSV Eindhoven and has been on fire since making the move. PSV are top of the Eredivisie, and Dest has played a big part in their dominance.
He has revived himself in some fashion. The 23-year-old has featured in a total of 33 matches for the Dutch club and has contributed towards eight goals. His revival presents Barcelona with a perfect opportunity to cash in on him.
PSV do have a buy option worth €10 million. While initially, they were not keen on paying the entire amount and wanted to negotiate fresh terms, his impressive performances suggest they might not have the luxury to renegotiate.
If they decide against signing him permanently, Barcelona will look to offload him in the summer with his contract running out in just over a year. Joao Cancelo who joined the Spanish giants on loan ahead of the ongoing season has been doing wonders for them and they are expected to go all out to sign him. As a result, Dest is unlikely to be in their plans moving ahead.
🚨 Man City absolutely want to sell Joao Cancelo this summer! 👀🇵🇹
The club will sell to the highest bidder and value the player at €40M. 💰
Barcelona do not have the financial means to afford him. 😬
(Source: @sport) pic.twitter.com/XeBIGTVLK5
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 7, 2024
Clement Lenglet
Lenglet is currently on loan at Aston Villa where he had a frustrating first half of the season. The 28-year-old hardly had any minutes in the Premier League. Unai Emery was only using him in their UEFA Europa Conference League fixture.
But, the frustrating period is now a story of the past as the 28-year-old centre-back has worked his way into his first-choice starting XI. He has been a constant feature in the heart of their defence. He has featured in 22 matches and has racked up over 1,800 minutes of first-team football.
Lenglet has managed to impress Emery, and Villa are not ruling out the possibility of pushing for a permanent switch in the upcoming summer. Even if the English club fail to sign him, Barcelona will look to sanction his departure in the summer.
They are well covered in the heart of the defence with Ronaldo Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Iñigo Martínez, Pau Cubarsi and the returning Eric Garcia. His contract with the Spanish club runs until the summer of 2026.
As a result, Barcelona will look to make a decent amount by offloading him. In short, the departure of all five of these players will give them enough financial strength to bolster their squad and return to their best next season.
Raphinha and Kounde would improve Manchester United greatly.