Transfer Talk: Five players heading for the exit door at Barcelona

Barcelona find themselves in something of a predicament.

The LaLiga giants are unable to register new signings Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, Emerson or Eric Garcia due to financial constraints, while an announcement over Lionel Messi’s new contract is also on the back-burner.

Financial fair play restrictions mean Barca need to reduce their wage bill before reinforcements can be confirmed, with Messi falling into this category after his old contract expired.

As a result, Barca have to move a few players on urgently — but who could be exiting the Camp Nou in the coming weeks?

Samuel Umtiti

According to numerous reports, the Spanish side have told Samuel Umtiti he can look for a new club.

Barcelona have Garcia, Clement Lenglet and Ronald Araujo as centre-back options alongside Gerard Pique, while they are also believed to be interested in Manchester City’s adopted Spaniard Aymeric Laporte.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham are all reportedly keen to bring the 27-year-old World Cup winner to England, despite injuries derailing a bright start to life at the Camp Nou for the Frenchman.

But on his day, Umtiti is an aggressive centre-back who can carry the ball into midfield and pick a pass.

If the price is right, there would be very little risk associated with signing him. 

Antoine Griezmann

Antoine Griezmann is another player rumoured to be raking in an astronomical wage — which is perhaps the only reason Barca are keen to part ways with the 30-year-old.

After an underwhelming debut campaign in Catalonia following his £100million move in the summer of 2019, the Frenchman found his groove as part of Ronald Koeman’s new-look side last season.

He scored 13 LaLiga goals and 20 across all competitions, playing a key role in Barcelona getting back into the title race.

Tough decisions need to be made and the former Atletico Madrid star may have to be sacrificed — but finding a potential suitor will not be easy.

Philippe Coutinho

Barcelona spent the best part of two years courting Philippe Coutinho.

Eventually they got their man, after agreeing to pay Liverpool an initial £105m in January 2018.

But it feels as though they have been trying to sell him since June 2019, when it became apparent he could not play the same role in a team featuring Messi.

Griezmann’s arrival then resulted in the Brazilian maestro, 29, being loaned loan to Bayern Munich, where he helped the Bundesliga side lift the Champions League — knocking out Barcelona in the process.

Injury prematurely ended his 2020-21 campaign, when it appeared as though he had finally forced his way into Koeman’s plans.

That opened the door for Pedri and it does not appear the teenage sensation will relinquish his place in the starting line-up anytime soon.

Miralem Pjanic

Midfield metronome Miralem Pjanic signed last summer in what always appeared a bizarre transfer deal.

Barcelona parted with more than £50m, plus a further £4.25m in bonuses to be paid at a later date, in order to acquire him from Juventus.

Arthur Melo went in the opposite direction, with the Serie A side reportedly paying £60m for the 24-year-old Brazilian.

It was a swap deal of sorts, just with money involved.

Pjanic, 31, was supposed to take over the mantle as the pass master general for Barcelona — but things did not go to plan and he made just six LaLiga starts.

He fell behind the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Pedri and Riqui Puig in the pecking order and reports have since emerged claiming he wants a return to Serie A in order to play regularly.

Martin Braithwaite

A long-term injury to Ousmane Dembele forced Barcelona into the transfer market back in February 2020 — they were allowed to make an emergency signing and opted for Leganes forward Martin Braithwaite.

His £15m release clause was paid and Braithwaite made the move to Camp Nou but he has scored just three LaLiga goals for the Blaugrana.

The 30-year-old has been named as one of the players Barcelona are looking to sell ahead of the coming campaign, despite his relatively modest yearly salary of around £3.5m.

An impressive showing for Denmark at Euro 2020 might have helped his cause and there will certainly be plenty of suitors if Barca decide to make the striker part of their summer exodus.