21 Barcelona players that are linked with an exit this summer

Barcelona needs to sell multiple players this summer for various reasons.

Barcelona have a massive downsizing operation for the summer as they face a huge dilemma over which players they need as they move forward into the next season.

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Quique Setien has 19 first-team footballers in his current squad for the remainder of this season with 11 League matches along with further potential fixtures in the Champions League. The recent return of Barca’s injured forwards, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele, will be deemed as new signings for the side as they look to help secure the La Liga within the remaining games.

Along with the 19 players, Barca also have six youngsters from their B squad, who have been regularly training with their seniors, with some managing a rare feature in the first-team matches.

Ronald Araujo, Alex Collado, Riqui Puig, and Ansu Fati are the future stars at the Nou Camp and Setien has clearly shown his intentions of using them in the near future. Reserve team goalkeeper, Inaki Pena, has also been tipped by many to become the natural backup to Marc-Andre ter Stegen after reports claimed that the current second-choice goalkeeper, Neto, is likely to leave this summer.

The Spanish side have also signed two players, Francisco Trincao and Matheus Pereira, who will be joining the team in the summer. Counting the 8 players who are currently loaned out, Barca will have 35 players for next season, and that’s disregarding the fact that there are multiple new players linked with a move to Camp Nou this summer.

It is clear that the club will have to sell or trade some of their existing players this summer to avoid an overbooked squad next season. The ongoing COVID-19 will also have its effect on the transfer market as the Catalans will surely look to include some of these players to handle the squad’s crowding. Having said that, Barca must avoid losing some of their stars just for the sake of clearing their spot as recent reports suggested that they are prepared to sell Ousmane Dembele for a bargain just to make room.

Here are the 21 players that have been linked with a move away from Camp Now this summer transfer window.

Ousmane Dembele

The Frenchman’s future is uncertain as coach Quique Setien is confident in his abilities to shine at Barca but the player is hindering his chance with a poor work ethic and unfortunate reoccurring injuries. A recent report suggested that the Catalans are willing to part ways with Dembele as they look to recoup their finances. They also want to get rid of his hefty 12 million euros per season salary as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to the salary cut of multiple athletes. Paris Saint-Germain along with some Premier League teams are looking into the possibility of acquiring the 23-year-old with Sport reporting that Barca are willing to lower their asking price to an astonishing mere 42 million euros.

Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann has been struggling to adapt to the Barca way since his arrival from Atletico Madrid with multiple sources confirming that he will be sold if a right offer is made. The implications of COVID-19, however, will make this an unlikely reality, as only a few clubs remain that could really afford to buy out the French international. Manchester United are one of the clubs that can afford the Striker but have other priorities to cater to. Paris Saint-Germain remains an option as they are keen on signing more French internationals but the only way a deal is made is if Griezmann is included in a potential Neymar deal. The forward, himself, is not willing to leave the Nou Camp this summer and will most likely stay for another year.

Philippe Coutinho

Coutinho has clearly not worked for Barca and after Bayern Munich recently rejecting the offer to sign the midfielder permanently, the Catalan giants will have to either loan or sell him this summer. Many reports have linked Coutinho to a move back to the Premier League with multiple clubs wanting the Brazilian’s services, however, his hefty transfer fee along with his massive salary is pushing the clubs away. Arsenal and Chelsea have been the strongest link while Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspurs, Everton and Leicester City are also interested.

Sergi Roberto

Roberto has been a special player for Barca, coming through the La Masia ranks to permanently establishing himself as a regular with the first-team. His versatility is what makes him so successful as he has been seen playing as a centre midfielder, right midfielder and as a right-back for Barca. In recent years he was seen sharing his minutes with Nelson Semedo but the current financial situation at the club along with the overcrowding in the midfield has led to the club looking into the multiple offers that they have received for the Spaniard.

Ivan Rakitic

At 32 years of age, there is no surprise that the club are trying to sell their Croatian midfielder especially after multiple poor performances last season. Surprisingly, however, Quique Setien recently claimed that the team played their best when Rakitic was playing alongside Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong. Barca will surely look to sell Rakitic in the next transfer window with the most likely outcome being to include him as part of an exchange with reports claiming Inter Milan and Juventus are the interested parties.

Arturo Vidal

Vidal has had a successful career at Barca with multiple consistent performances seeing him share his minutes alongside Ivan Rakitic. Mundo Deportivo, however, recently reported that Inter Milan have reached an agreement for the Chilean international, a deal that was struck to reduce the transfer fee for Barca target Lautaro Martinez, who is likely to join the Nou Camp this summer.

Neto

Neto has been linked with a move away from the Nou Camp as Ter Stegen’s dominant performance this season has forced Neto with only 1 appearance this season. The Catalan giants are reportedly interested in their former La Masia graduate and current Ajax goalkeeper, Andre Onana. Their economic crisis at Barca, however, has forced them to shift their focus away from the Cameroonian and back to their current B team goalkeeper, Inaki Pena. Pena was previously linked with a loan move this summer as Barca wanted him to continue his development in a more competitive environment.

Samuel Umtiti

Umtiti has fallen out of favour at Barca ever since his injury that forced the French international to watch from the sidelines as his fellow countryman, Clement Lenglet, took over his role alongside Gerard Pique. Many clubs are monitoring the former Lyon defender’s situation at the Nou Camp with many speculating that he will likely end up as part of an exchange deal for the many Barca transfer targets for this summer. Paris Saint-Germain are clear contenders while multiple Premier League sides can also be an option.

Junior Firpo

Firpo failed to take over the role of playing as a consistent backup for Jordi Alba to provide the Spaniard with some well-earned rest between fixtures throughout the season. Firpo’s poor performance has disappointed both the club and Lionel Messi. Barca are looking to sell Firpo this summer with multiple clubs being linked with the 23-year-old. Latest reports claim that the left-back will be included in the Lautaro Martinez deal as part payment.

Nelson Semedo

Semedo is one of the key transfers this summer as Barca are negotiating multiple exchange deals with multiple clubs with the Portuguese international being at the centre of it all. One of the most creative and difficult deal is the one that involves four European giants. Barca want to swap Semedo for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo, to immediately trade him with Inter Milan in exchange for Lautaro Martinez. At the same time, they have a separate deal with Juventus to secure full-back Mattia De Sciglio for themselves. It remains to be seen if this extensive deal manages to become a reality while Barca keeps Paris Saint-Germain’s Thomas Meunier as a backup.

Moussa Wague

Currently loaned out to Ligue 1 side, Nice, Wague is among the many Barca youngsters that hope to one day feature for the first-team squad. He has made 5 appearances with the French side with two assists during that time while showing both defensive and offensive techniques. Sadly for Wague, it is very unlikely that the club decides to keep him past this summer as they look to make multiple sales to boost their chances of secure their priority signings.

Jean-Clair Todibo

Todibo, currently on loan at Schalke, has shown his immense potential by appearing on multiple matches for the Bundesliga side. Schalke have the option of securing the defender permanently for 25 million euros but their financial situation after COVID-19 could make the deal difficult. Multiple clubs are interested in the center-back especially after his impressive performance with the German side.

Oriol Busquets

Oriol Busquets is a transfer target for multiple European elites with interest coming from both La Liga and Bundesliga. Currently loaned to Twente, Oriol was attempting to use this opportunity to impress Quique Setien enough to give him the golden opportunity next season to play for the first-team. Due to the multiple offers coming in, the midfielder is likely to be sold this summer to improve the club’s finances. The 21-year-old will surely look to remain at the Nou Camp to fulfill his dream of playing for the first-team one day.

Carles Alena

Alena, along with millions of Barca fans, has been hoping to establish himself as a regular first-team player alongside Frenkie de Jong, Arthur Melo and Sergio Busquets. His loan deal at Real Betis was finalized to help Alena develop even further while getting the regular minutes he desires. He wanted to use this opportunity to display his potential but the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic ruined the midfielder’s plans.

Rafinha

Rafinha was once a regular part of the first-team but his knee injury back in 2018 has drastically affected the player’s performances ever since. He signed a new contract extending his stay until 2021 but it was to enable a loan deal for him. He is currently at Celta de Vigo trying to overcome his struggles while many Premier League and Italian clubs are keeping a close eye on the 27-year-old.

Emerson

Emerson’s contract is shared between Barca and Real Betis where the Catalan side gets an option to purchase the defender in 2021 for 6 million euros. Many speculated the possibility of signing him before, in order to include him in an exchange deal for one of the targets. Mundo Deportivo, however, reported that Barca now wants him to remain at Betis to continue his development despite the player’s intentions of wanting to already make a move to Camp Nou.

Arthur Melo

Arthur is regarded by many as the future of Barca midfield alongside Frenkie de Jong. It is unthinkable to even suggest that the Catalans might be negotiating his exit but recent reports have claimed that their deal with Juventus for Miralem Pjanic will be secured if the club includes the Brazilian in the mix. Barca, however, are reluctant to sell their prospect and are looking into the possibility of adding someone else for Pjanic.

Martin Braithwaite

Braithwaite was signed as a result of the injury sustained by Ousmane Dembele that saw the Frenchman out of action for six months. Barca used the 18 million euros release clause set by Braithwaite’s former club to secure the forward. His explosive pace and good linkup with his teammates saw him become an immediate success but despite this the club are looking to sell him. The 28-year-old, however, desires a long career at Barca with his intentions of remaining for another four or more seasons.

Arda Turan

Many might forget that Arda Turan is still under contract with Barca. The Turkish international left the Camp Nou in 2018 to join Istanbul Basaksehir but still hopes to remain under contract despite knowing that he will be leaving on loan again this summer.

"“Right now I am a Barcelona player as I’m still under contract. It was a mutual decision. I wanted to remain under contract with Barça. I’ll probably continue playing at a foreign club next season” Arda said, source AS."

Inaki Pena

Inaki Pena is regarded by many as the ideal backup for Ter Stegen as the youngster has proved himself with the B team as one with a bright future at the club. Barca, however, felt that a loan deal would be better suited for the 21-year-old as they wanted him to get regular minutes in a competitive environment which cannot be possible as a backup goalie. Having said that, the current financial status of the club might force them to keep him as the second-choice goalkeeper as a bid for transfer target Andre Onana will likely cost them more than what they are willing to spend.

Juan Miranda

Miranda signed a two year deal with Schalke and is currently playing alongside Todibo. The defender, however, has failed to establish himself as a regular but believes that he has grown after his time in Bundesliga. He will listen to Quique Setien’s plans for him this summer but has told the club that he prioritizes playing time above everything else. It is extremely unlikely that the player will remain a Barca player beyond this summer as the club are negotiating with Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven, who have both shown then interest in the center-back.

Which of these players would you like to keep at Camp Nou this summer?