BARCELONA want to sign Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia in January but they must sell FOUR players first, according to reports.
Barca boss Ronald Koeman is keen to land the Lyon and Manchester City stars but the cash-strapped Catalans need to raise money to fund the moves beforehand.
Barcelona want to sign Man City star Eric GarciaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The Catalans are also keen on Memphis Depay but will have to sell FOUR players if they have any chance of landing the pairCredit: Rex Features
Victor Font is favourite to win the next Nou Camp presidential elections and he has already ruled out a move for Neymar on economic grounds.
And with club legend Carles Rexach having been sacked from his advisory role, nobody in Catalonia is in any doubt about the dire state of the club’s finances because of coronavirus.
They have been heavily linked with Dutchman Depay and City’s 19-year-old centre-back Garcia.
But neither will have any chance of signing unless Barca can offload Samuel Umtiti, Junior Firpo, Martin Braithwaite and Matheus Fernandes, according to the Mail.
Covid-19 saw a £269million drop in Barca’s income last season.
And talks over a £171m wage-bill cut have ground to a halt.
So as things stand, only playing squad departures will see funds freed up to allow Koeman to land the players he thinks he needs.
Garcia was at the centre of a tug-of-war between the two clubs during the previous transfer window, before he eventually stayed at the Etihad.
But with his contract running out next summer, Barca believe City’s weakened negotiating positioning means they can get him on the cheap in January.
Manager Pep Guardiola said last month: “He wants to leave but maybe we can seduce him to extend his contract with us.”
And Garcia said: “It is true, I have told the club I do not intend to extend my contract beyond 2021.
“But I will return to Manchester when I am finished on international duty with Spain.
“I am focused on next season with City.”
Juventus and Roma are ready to pounce if Barca fail to land Depay.
But Lyon insist he will not be sold.
Man City plot Lionel Messi transfer pursuit when window opens in January after failed summer swoop
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
