Latest Barca transfer news
Barca’s humbling Champions League defeat in Munich which led to the team being eliminated from the group stage of the competition for the first time in 17 years has now taken on extra significance when it comes to dealing in the transfer market.
This has led to the latest transfer talk focusing on which players the club will have to sell in order to help recoup the funds they have lost by failing to progress in the richest continental soccer competition in the world.
Even the new signings in the summer such as Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay were bargain-free transfers who were out of contract at their previous clubs – such is the challenging financial situation at Camp Nou.
Now dropping into the Europa League for the first time since its reinvention from the previous UEFA Cup has led to the club hierarchy, led by President Joan Laporta, to completely reassess their approach to improving the squad roster.
Previously-mentioned big name targets such as Borussia Dortmund’s Norwegian goal machine Erling Haaland and Ferran Torres, the impressive Spain international shining bright at Manchester City are now set to be out of Barca’s reach.
Even recent link Marcos Alonso, another Spain national team starter in the English Premier League at Chelsea, has become the latest target whom the Blaugranas are set to miss out as it becomes increasingly unlikely the €25m price-tag will be within budget.
The club still holds high hopes to attract Torres, especially now they are out of the Champions League and in desperate need of finishing in the top four La Liga places by the end of the season. The player himself is said to be keen on the move and it is believed the two clubs have been in contact about a possible deal.
But the desire to strengthen the squad to reach the top four qualification places in the league table is tempered by the necessity to balance the books and any deal for the Manchester City forward will be dependent on whether the club can offload some of their big earners who are not enjoying much gametime.
They include France’s World Cup-winning defender Samuel Umtiti, who has barely been involved for the past two years, and attacker Luuk de Jong who is not considered to be in the manager’s future plans.
Meanwhile, Barca is prepared to listen to offers for big-money flop Coutinho, who is considered to be the worst business decision the club have made following a reported €160m transfer from Liverpool in 2018, having hardly featured and already spent a loan spell away from the Camp Nou.
However, all three are being paid hefty salaries to be out of favour in Xavi’s mind and so are not attractive propositions for any potential bidders – although newly-flush Newcastle United have been linked with a January move for the Brazilian playmaker.
It is unlikely that you will see some of Europe’s elite clubs linked by the betting platforms with those players due to the financial outlay that any club would have to make for essentially a reserve backup player – if they are linked the odds will be long.
No, any football fan with an interest in wagering on Barca outgoings will, instead, be keen to use their FanDuel odds boost wisely and back some of the first-team regular starters that have a sales appeal to prospective buying clubs.
Sergino Dest is one such player, who had enjoyed a good start to his Barca career under previous manager Ronald Koeman, and his young age means there are likely to be offers from other clubs. The player himself is reportedly interested in switching to Bayern – another kick in the teeth for the Blaugranas who must be sick of the sight of the German champions by now.
Similarly, Oscar Mingueza is likely to be an attractive option for potential clubs when compared to fellow centre back Clement Lenglet due to his low salary and still having age on his side and the potential to do well with a good run of appearances under his belt.
The only definite outward movement from Camp Nou sees 22-year old winger Alex Collado move on loan at Granada until the end of the season. He has been training with the first team and is considered by Xavi to be one for the future.
To improve the position in the La Liga table and to progress in the Europa League, however, the club hierarchy will need to be very active in the winter transfer window in moving players off the wage bill to be able to bring in strong recruits and improve fortunes on the pitch.
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