BARCELONA are set to make a series of high-profile players available for transfer this summer, according to reports.
The cash-strapped LaLiga champions have made a series of short-term moves, including sanctioning the sale of Barca Studios, since Joan Laporta returned as club president in 2021.
Barca’s decisions have been made in a bid to keep the team fighting on all fronts, despite being in more than a £1bn worth of debt.
Splashy acquisitions in spite of their perilous financial situation included that of Robert Lewandowski in 2022.
The approach initially led to winning last season’s LaLiga title.
Their hopes of adding further silverware this term went up in smoke last month, however, as they crashed out of the Spanish Supercup and Copa del Rey.
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They have also fallen 11 points behind Real Madrid in the title race, with boss Xavi to depart at the end of the campaign.
According to The Athletic, Barca are set to have to slash their wage bill in the summer.
Spanish outlet Marca add that they will make their most promising young talent “untouchable”.
Barcelona are determined to keep the likes of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, Pedri, Alejandro Balde, Ferran Torres and Pau Cubarsi.
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In addition to to this exciting crop, Barca are also likely to try to retain experienced heads Lewandowski, Ilkay Gundogan and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The rest of their squad are expected to be on the chopping block.
In particular, Jules Kounde and former Premier League duo Andreas Christensen and Raphinha are likely to be flogged.
Kounde, 25, joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2022 after months of being strongly linked with Chelsea.
He has gone on to play 69 times for Xavi’s side, often at right-back rather than in the middle.
Christensen, 27, signed for Barca from the Blues that same summer and has two-and-a-half years left on his deal.
Raphinha, meanwhile, signed in a deal worth around £55m from Leeds.
The Brazilian, 27, has played 70 times for Barca – scoring 14 goals and laying on 19 assists.
He attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham prior to moving to Barcelona.
The Catalan giants’ sporting director Deco has already confirmed that his side won’t make any splashy signings this summer.
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He told local TV: “We will not do big signings next summer.
“We need a new manager who understands the situation of the club, who understands that we have a lot of youngsters that need to be improved and worked on, who understands we are growing as a team and that we won’t make top signings next summer.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
