Even though the summer transfer window is still a few months away, Barcelona are already planning and strategising their moves as they are under pressure to reduce their wage bill.
Indeed, La Liga president Javier Tebas has made it clear that the Catalan giants will need to shed around €200 million from their wage bill in order to be able to make signings and register them without any issues in the summer.
And, from the club’s perspective, player sales could be seen as the way to achieve that objective as it would generate revenue and trim the wage bill together.
According to DEPREDICT , as things stand, Barcelona consider five key players as ‘untouchables’ and have no desire to entertain any offers for those stars.
The five players in question are Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, Pedri, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo.
Lewandowski and Kounde have been huge successes at Spotify Camp Nou since arriving in the summer and are integral to Xavi’s plans. Meanwhile, Pedri, Gavi, and Araujo are seen as the present and the future of the team.
The report adds that the club are aware that they might have to sell a few big-name players in order to cut down on their wage bill before next season, and that all names, apart from the aforementioned five, could be offloaded if significant offers come along.
It must, however, be noted that Barcelona are already set to renew Sergi Roberto’s contract while a new deal is likely to be offered to Sergio Busquets as well. Jordi Alba could also continue at Camp Nou, although he would likely have to accept a pay cut.
The idea is to not touch Xavi’s first-choice players, but the Catalan outfit’s financial situation could cause a change of plans.
Barça have made it clear that Ansu Fati remains a part of the plans and the player, too, recently quashed rumours of an exit. However, DEPREDICT continues to claim that the young Spaniard could be an option for the club to sell in the summer window.
Loanees like Nico Gonzalez and Ez Abde could also be shown the doors depending on the economic conditions and the offers that arrive, even though the idea is to keep hold of them.
It remains to be seen how things pan out for Barcelona in the summer. But whatever the situation may be, they will not listen to any offers for the five ‘untouchables’, Lewandowski, Kounde, Pedri, Gavi, Araujo.
