ANTOINE GRIEZMANN, Samuel Umtiti and Ivan Rakitic are just some of the players available to purchase from Barcelona this summer.
As SunSport reported last night, only a few stars are being ringfenced from the transfer market amid a financial meltdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the club’s huge wage bill.
Messi is one of the few Barcelona stars NOT up for saleCredit: Reuters
Only Lionel Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Frenkie de Jong are thought to be exempt from being let go.
Here, we take a look across the gossip columns to figure out where the rest of the first-team squad are attracting interest from.
NELSON SEMEDO
Reports in Spain emerged over the weekend that Juventus are desperate to sign the full-back.
Details of a swap deal involving Miralem Pjanic, Mattia De Sciglio, and £22million appears to be a solid outcome for the Catalans – with Manchester City also keen.
IVAN RAKITIC
Rakitic is thought to desire a return to Seville one dayCredit: AFP OR LICENSORS
The Croatian, 32, has spoken of a “big change” this summer with it also Barcelona’s last chance to cash in before his contract expires in 2021.
Atletico Madrid and Sevilla look like the prime options in LaLiga but Manchester United and Tottenham remain in the mix.
SERGIO BUSQUETS
The Blaugrana selling Busquets would be a highly unpopular move among the Camp Nou faithful yet it is not thought to be off the table.
Pjanic’s potential arrival in his deep-lying playmaker role could push Busquets, 31, towards the exit door after a trophy-laden 15 years at the club.
ARTHUR MELO
Serious Serie A interest has persisted for the Brazilian midfielder, particularly from Juventus and Inter Milan.
Whether Arthur becomes a part of the Pjanic deal remains to be seen but he is keen to stay at Barcelona – with Tottenham also featuring in reports.
LUIS SUAREZ
With the Catalans looking to secure a long-term replacement for the veteran striker, Suarez’s exit may come sooner rather than later.
MLS teams have been described as monitoring the 33-year-old with any deal perhaps hinging on Barcelona’s pursuit of Lautaro Martinez – who has reportedly been approached by Messi.
OUSMANE DEMBELE
An injury-blighted time in LaLiga has certainly not lived up to expectations for £129million man Dembele.
A fee of just £53m may be enough to give the French winger a second chance at a new home, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to be admirers.
NETO
The rise of Barcelona youth team goalkeeper Inaki Pena is set to make Neto surplus to requirements as Ter Stegen’s understudy.
And a whole host of teams are said to be ready to bid for the 30-year-old – including Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico, Real Betis, AC Milan, PSG, Arsenal, Chelsea and Ajax.
CLEMENT LENGLET
Lenglet’s rapid rise from Ligue 2 to Barcelona was first viewed as a step too far but he has held his own in Catalonia.
Yet to be linked with anyone specifically, the French international may find his place in the squad untouched if Umtiti leaves.
ANTOINE GRIEZMANN
Selling Griezmann would be a drastic move by the Spanish sideCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Moving Griezmann on after just a year at the club would be a bold move from Barcelona, to say the least.
Finding someone to take his £300,000-a-week wages in this market would be tough but Chelsea and PSG have popped up on the rumour mill.
JORDI ALBA
If Junior Firpo is moved on, first-choice left-back Alba is likely to join the list of indispensable Blaugrana stars.
Either way, it would take a hefty bid from a rival European giant or spend-happy Chinese side to secure the Spaniard’s services which, at 31, still have plenty of years left in them.
MARTIN BRAITHWAITE
As an emergency signing who made three appearances before the division was shut down for a number of months, Braithwaite’s £15m move to Barcelona must rank among the most pointless ever.
The Catalans are not thought to want much of a profit on the Danish forward, should West Ham or Everton make their reported interest known.
SERGI ROBERTO
Sergi Roberto was the last homegrown player to nail down a consistent first-team berthCredit: Handout – Getty
Juventus’ irrepressible search for a right-back led to them launching a £58m bid for the versatile La Masia graduate earlier in the year, according to Spanish media.
Roberto is unlikely to be high on Barcelona’s list of candidates to be sold – yet that may change later in the summer if other deals fall through.
ARTURO VIDAL
A high earner, heading towards the twilight of his career and still under contract for another season, Vidal arguably embodies the short-term approach Barcelona have taken to transfer dealings in the last couple of years.
There is still some resale value in him though and Inter Milan are thought to be very keen on the Chilean midfielder.
SAMUEL UMTITI
A handful of clubs across England and Italy would jump at the chance to sign World Cup winner Umtiti, especially amid talk of a cut-price deal.
Yet whether the defender wants to trade the Blaugrana for Juventus, Inter, Napoli, Manchester United, Arsenal or Chelsea is very much in doubt.
JUNIOR FIRPO
Dominican Republic-born left-back Firpo, 23, only signed from Betis last year and is already wanted back by his old team.
Inter, Roma and Tottenham are the usual suspects touted for a move if Barcelona can find an alternative understudy for Jordi Alba.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO
Bayern Munich are set to send Coutinho back to Barcelona when his loan expires at the end of the season.
While coach Quique Setien is described as happy to give the attacking midfielder another chance if necessary, the club may view a bid from Chelsea, Arsenal or Newcastle as too good to turn down.
Chelsea ‘close’ to sealing Philippe Coutinho transfer as agreement grows near with Barcelona amid interest from Arsenal
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
