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      Martin Braithwaite among four Barcelona players fighting for futures and could be flogged in January transfer window

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      MARTIN BRAITHWAITE is among four Barcelona players fighting for their futures at the club, according to reports.
      And they are all at risk of being flogged in January as the club look to make further cost-cutting measures.

      Martin Braithwaite is at risk of being sold less than 12 months after signing for BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      According to Marca, Braithwaite, Junior Firpo, Carles Alena and Riqui Puig must all impress in the coming weeks with eight fixtures before the end of the year.
      Or they will find themselves in the shop window when the market reopens on January 1.
      Barcelona are in desperate need to slash costs amid spiralling debts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
      That saw the annual wage bill cut by 43 per cent to £343million for the 2020-21 season.

      Lionel Messi, the rest of the players and manager Ronald Koeman did agree a pay cut last week.
      Braithwaite, 29, arrived in an emergency £15m deal in February due to an injury crisis but is not seen as a long-term solution.
      It took him 14 appearances for club and country to get his first goals of the season, scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Dynamo Kiev last week before hitting his first LaLiga strike of the campaign against Osasuna on Sunday.

      Braithwaite scored his first LaLiga goal of the season in the weekend win over OsasunaCredit: AP:Associated Press

      Firpo, 24, was signed from Real Betis a year ago but has struggled to dislodge Jordi Alba in the side.

      Big things are expected from La Masia graduates Alena, 22, and Puig, 21.
      But they have struggled to get their chances this season with Barcelona enduring a poor start to life under Koeman.
      That led to reports linking Puig – who has an £88m release clause – with a January switch to Leeds on loan.

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      Coutinho stalls over new Barcelona contract until new president appointed in career U-turn after flop Nou Camp start

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      PHILIPPE COUTINHO is reportedly stalling over a new Barcelona contract as he wants to wait until the new president is appointed.
      The former Liverpool midfielder endured a miserable start to his Barca career but has rediscovered his form this season under new coach Ronald Koeman.

      Philippe Coutinho is playing the waiting game before agreeing to a new contractCredit: Reuters

      Coutinho left Anfield in a £142million move to Barca in 2018 but his time in Spain got off to a forgettable start.
      The Brazil international was shipped out on loan to Bayern Munich but struggled to make a big impression last season.
      Coutinho has returned to the Nou Camp and is back in favour after being used by Koeman on the left flank.
      It is a remarkable turnaround for a player that appeared to be heading for the exit door.

      Coutinho’s contract runs until 2023 and there was talk of a new deal but the playmaker reportedly wants to bide his time.
      Barcelona are in the process of appointing a new president after Josep Maria Bartomeu’s recent resignation.
      Coutinho wants to wait and see the plans of the new president with the possibility of Koeman being ousted.

      If the coach is moved on, Coutinho does not want to commit his future without having guarantees over his and the club’s long-term plans.

      The 28-year-old was reportedly keen to return to Liverpool in the summer after a frustrating time in Spain.
      But Coutinho appears much more settled at Barca now and the incoming president appears to be a deciding factor in whether he pens an extended contract.

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      Barcelona ‘pull out of Adama Traore transfer race’ but Wolves winger also eyed by Liverpool and Real Madrid

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      BARCELONA are not interested in signing Wolves winger Adama Traore, according to reports in Spain.
      It has been suggested that Traore is becoming frustrated with a lengthy spell on the bench amid contract extension talks at Molineux.

      Adama Traore continues to be linked with a move away from WolvesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      A host of European clubs, including Real Madrid and Juventus, as well as Liverpool, have been linked with the player.
      But one side who will not bid for Traore is former team Barcelona.
      That is according to Mundo Deportivo, who report on the move being seen as ‘unfeasible’ at the Camp Nou.
      Wolves are said to want a fee as high as £90million for the 24-year-old.

      However, Traore has not started a game since September and is in the midst of a long spell on the bench.
      Despite being dropped, the Spain international is still thought to be discussing a contract extension past his current deal to 2023.

      The Catalonia-born star began his career with Barcelona, joining at the age of eight before making just a handful of appearances with the first-team.
      After leaving for Aston Villa in 2015, the bulked-up player finally showed his full potential with a stunning run in the Wolves side last season.

      Reports linking him with a return to Barcelona came amid the LaLiga giants’ financial crisis.
      Players are being asked to take a second round of pay cuts following a summer of sales.

      Arturo Vidal, Luis Suarez, Nelson Semedo and Rafinha were among the stars moved on in a bid to lighten the wage bill.
      Limited funds meant late bids for Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay failed to come off, with Ousmane Dembele’s exit also falling through.
      Barcelona are thought to be keen on finally signing the duo in January.

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      Barcelona ‘chose to sign Ousmane Dembele over Kylian Mbappe’ reveals former director in transfer shocker

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      BARCELONA chose to sign Ousmane Dembele over Kylian Mbappe, the club’s former director Javier Bordas revealed.
      The Catalan giants splashed £124million on signing French forward Dembele, 23, from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.

      Barcelona could have bought Kylian Mbappe instead of his France team-mate Ousmane DembeleCredit: EPA

      Former Barca director Javier BardasCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      But Bordas has now claimed they could have signed Dembele’s compatriot and Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe, 21, instead.
      Mbappe was still with Monaco at the time and Barca’s former exec suggested he could have been lured to the Nou Camp for around £90m.
      As it turned out Mbappe left for Ligue 1 rivals PSG instead, first on loan in 2017 before making the move permanent for £108m the following year.
      In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Bordas said: “Yes, when we were ready to sign Dembele, [Josep Maria] Minguella called me to tell us that Mbappe was within reach.

      “I spoke with [Josep Maria] Bartomeu and he told me to look at him.
      “I called his father and he told me that he was not going to go to Madrid because Cristiano, Benzema and Bale were there and instead he could go to Barca because Neymar was not there.
      “The president of Monaco preferred for him to go to Barca so as not to strengthen PSG, a direct rival.
      “And for €100m it could have been done.

      “But Robert preferred Dembele and Pep Segura supported him.
      “The explanation was that Mbappe plays for himself and Dembele plays for the team.
      “And since a winger like Ney[mar] left, Robert preferred a winger more than a finisher.”
      But if they could do things over, Barcelona are sure to have changed their mind after Dembele’s torrid run with injuries and Mbappe’s sensational goalscoring.
      Since moving to the French capital, Mbappe has scored 97 goals in 132 games in all competitions.
      While Dembele has mustered just 22 goals in only 82 games and is reportedly up for sale in January as cash-strapped Barca look to recoup some of his handsome transfer fee.
      Manchester United are said to be interested in landing the forward – who turned down a move to Old Trafford on deadline day – for a cut-price £45m.

      Ousmane Dembele shows off his skills in training with Barcelona More

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      Man Utd boosted in Ousmane Dembele transfer chase as Barcelona prepare January swoop for Memphis Depay

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have received a boost in their pursuit of Ousmane Dembele after Barcelona prepared to launch a January swoop for Lyon’s Memphis Depay.
      The Red Devils had feared Barca would hold onto Dembele after their superstar youngster Ansu Fati, 17, suffered a knee injury which has ruled him out for four months.

      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Ousmane Dembele’s move to Manchester United could be back onCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Barcelona are lining up a January move for Lyon star Memphis DepayCredit: Icon Sport – Getty
      But Sport reports the Catalan giants will launch a move in the New Year for former United flop Depay, 26.
      However, in order for the Lyon skipper to be reunited with his old Holland boss Ronald Koeman at the Nou Camp, cash-strapped Barca must offload some unwanted stars – boosting United’s hopes of landing French ace Dembele.
      After controversial president Josep Maria Bartomeu quit last month, managing committee president Carles Tusquets is steering the ship.

      And the report states he said signings are possible but only if players are sold first.
      United had turned to Dembele, 23, after failing to nab No1 target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund in the last window.
      And the Barca forward came close to arriving at Old Trafford on loan on deadline day before pulling the plug on a move at the last minute with reports suggesting he favoured a move to Juventus.
      United could land Dembele for a cut-price £45million as Barca look to recoup some of the £124m they paid Borussia Dortmund for him in 2017.

      Lionel Messi’s side need to raise quick cash to repair their disastrous finances after news they must cut £171m from their budget to avoid hitting the wall.

      Dembele has scored 22 goals in 82 appearances for Barca but has failed to live up to his hefty price tag after struggling with form and fitness in Catalonia.
      Barcelona are confident of signing Depay as they have a good relationship with Lyon.
      Personal terms are not thought to be an issue after the LaLiga giants first went in for him in the summer.
      And with Depay’s contract expiring at the end of the season he should be considerably cheaper this time around as the Ligue 1 side risk losing him for free next year.
      Depay resurrected his career after a torrid spell in Manchester by leaving for the South of France in 2017, and has bagged 59 goals and 46 assists in 148 games for Lyon.

      Ousmane Dembele shows off his skills in training with Barcelona More

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      Dani Alves reveals he wanted Barcelona return but club ‘didn’t have the balls to admit they were wrong with me’

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      DANI ALVES revealed he wanted to return to Barcelona but the club ‘didn’t have the balls to admit they were wrong with me’.
      Brazilian Alves, 37, starred 391 times for the Catalan giants from 2008 to 2016, winning 23 trophies, including six LaLiga crowns and three Champions League titles.

      Brazilian Dani Alves wanted to return to BarcelonaCredit: AFP – Getty

      After establishing himself as the world’s prominent right-back he was surprisingly allowed to leave on a free and joined Juventus on a two-year deal in 2016.
      But he left Turin by mutual consent after winning a domestic double in his only season and signed for French giants Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
      But Sao Paolo star Alves revealed he fancied a return to Spain after leaving Serie A – but the club’s failure to recognise they treated him poorly prevented him rejoining the Blaugrana.
      He told RAC 1: “I offered myself to Barca to come back. I went to Juve to prove I was still at a good level.

      “I wanted to return to Barca and they needed me, but they didn’t have the balls to admit that they were wrong with me.
      “If they had treated me as I thought I deserved, today I would still continue playing for Barca. I love this club.”
      Alves added another six trophies to his collection in two years in the French capital with PSG.
      Before returning to play in his homeland with Sao Paolo in 2019.

      The veteran full-back is still captain of the Brazilian side and has amassed 118 caps since his 2003 debut.
      He is the latest star to slam the Barcelona hierarchy after skipper Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all ripped into the Catalan chiefs.
      Controversial president Josep Maria Bartomeu quit last month ahead of a vote of no confidence and Alves believes it’s time for a rebuilding project at the cash-strapped giants.
      He added: “The style of Barca is changing. The club has lost its identity a bit and now has to go through a tough process to recover it.
      “I think that Barca only wants to be a commercial and business club…buy and sell players. When you do that, you lose your identity. I think that is the problem for Barcelona.”

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      Man Utd ‘set to return for Ousmane Dembele with January transfer bid as Barcelona look to offload winger’

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are looking to return in January with a bid to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona, reports suggest.
      United failed with every attempt to bring a winger to the club in the summer window, including their doomed saga with Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.

      Man Utd are reportedly looking to return in January with a bid to sign Ousmane Dembele from BarcelonaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They instead signed striker Edison Cavani on a free, but Old Trafford boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still keen to enhance his attacking options.
      According to Mundo Deportivo, United will look to sign 23-year-old Dembele in the winter sales.
      But they are said to be looking for a six-month loan with no option to buy.
      That proved to be a stumbling block last time around as Barca instead wanted to sell the Frenchman permanently.

      The Spanish giants – now managed by Ronald Koeman – missed out on signing Lyon’s Memphis Depay as a result of not selling enough stars.
      Dembele, who has attracted attention from Liverpool before, remained in LaLiga and has featured seven times, starting three games this season.
      The £124million signing has just two years left on his contract, with his transfer value decreasing after every window.
      ⚠️ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      But with United appearing unwilling to commit to anything other than a temporary loan deal, they could fail in a pursuit for Dembele.
      Solskjaer is under increasing pressure at Old Trafford, after they slumped to consecutive defeats, first to Arsenal in the league and then at Istanbul Basaksehir.
      The club are already reported to have approached former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino as a possible replacement – although SunSport understands no contact has yet been made.
      They travel to fourth placed Everton this weekend placed 15th in the table.

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      Barcelona to sell five players in January including Man Utd transfer target Ousmane Dembele to raise cash

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      CASH-STRAPPED Barcelona will reportedly flog five stars in January, including Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele, to raise funds.
      Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports the club will try and offload Dembele, Martin Braithwaite, Carles Alena, Junior Firpo and Samuel Umtiti.

      Manchester United target Ousmane Dembele could leave Barcelona in JanuaryCredit: Rex Features

      Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo splashed on Barcelona’s transfer plans

      The club need to offload players surplus to requirements to allow boss Ronald Koeman to reinvest in the squad.
      Former Holland boss Koeman, 57, is lining up moves for ex-United flop Memphis Depay and Manchester City ace Eric Garcia.
      But club chiefs have made it clear they need to balance the books first after reporting losses of £88million.
      Barca are desperately trying to slash their whopping £355m annual wage bill as crisis talks with players continue.

      Dembele attracted attention from the Red Devils as an alternative to Jadon Sancho but reportedly snubbed a move to Old Trafford on deadline day in favour of Juventus but that move also failed to materialise.
      The French ace arrived at the Nou Camp from Borussia Dortmund for £124m in 2017 but has failed to live up to his hefty price tag and the club will reportedly seek to recoup £45m in January.
      But Mundo Deportivo reports United would prefer a loan move with an option to buy rather than an obligation as the club looks to fix their dismal start to the season.
      The report states Barca’s other option for quick cash is to sell Dembele’s compatriot Umtiti.

      The centre-back has previously been linked with both United and Arsenal and his torrid run of injuries plus Barca’s Covid crisis has convinced them to put the 26-year-old up for sale.
      He is yet to feature at all this season and his injury could make it hard to secure a deal.
      Umtiti previously revealed he held talks with Lyon in the summer but a deal could not be brokered as he revealed he wished to stay in Catalonia.
      The desire for Koeman to be reunited with old international player Depay is likely to spell the end for Danish forward Braithwaite, 29, who has failed to convince the new boss of his worth.
      Barca are also willing to listen to offers for midfielder Alena, 22, but are not interested in a loan deal.
      Versatile Junior Firpo, 24, is also up for grabs after slipping down the impact sub pecking order.

      Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu has handed in his resignation from the club More