The 2019-20 season has not been easy for FC Barcelona, but the summer market of transfers it will be even more difficult. The Catalans have not been up to the task, neither in sports nor in institutions, and that, among other factors, has caused the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey and LaLiga to escape. With the Champions League turned into the last bullet to save the course, there are already movements to reform the project.
Josep Maria Bartomeu has been clear in several interviews and has admitted that after the coronavirus crisis, the club cannot do crazy things. The global budget pointed to a record figure of 1,100 million euros, but the problems derived from the pandemic will bring it down to close to 800. In these circumstances, it is necessary to worry about generating more income and measuring the efforts that translate into million-dollar expenses.
Although the Catalans must do the opposite of what they need, they have already outlined an interesting planning. Unfortunately, in this summer window more news is expected for player sales than for star additions, although the bet of the sports managers, if it is carried out in moderation, may be promising. At the moment several departures and two key arrivals are contemplated.
Barça’s summer planning
Sales
At Barça locker room there are very few who have their future assured, and pending renovations are progressing at a slower pace. In recent months there have been gains with the dismissal of Carles Pérez (11 million euros), Marc Cucurella (10) and Arthur (72 + 10 in variables), an agreement that in turn led to the hiring of Miralem Pjanic. But with the hole in the accounts, surely there will be more.
In Barcelona there is a group of players who have the transfer poster hanging. Martin Braithwaite and Rafinha Alcántara are among them, and also a Jean-Clair Todibo who might not be evaluated by the technicians because he can leave a lot of cash on hand. The Premier League is knocking on the door of the three, and also that of one Philippe Coutinho to which if it is possible to place, an excellent achievement will be obtained, not only due to the difficulty of the company, but also because its very high valuation would mean pocketing a good amount of millions.
In addition, there is another selection that is subject to various conditions, although it would not say no to a convincing offer either.. The clearest cases are those of Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti and Junior Firpo, although the first two maintain that they do not want to change airs and the second depends on a pact with Inter Milan. The Croatian is waiting for Sevilla and Arsenal, the French are trying to get out with a sale or transfer with an option to buy, and the Spanish-Dominican is involved in the ‘Lautaro Martínez operation’.
Less clear is what will happen to Ousmane Dembélé and Nélson Semedo, who rise and fall in the pools according to the day. The month of August could pass sentence because Vernon’s is conditioned by the recovery of his carousel from injuries and Lisbon’s could be a great source of income or another promising piece for barter. Both aim to stay, but their goodbye would not come as a surprise.
Transfers
Barça already has several incorporations tied, although it must define the path of some pearls. Miralem Pjanic arrives to start, and Ansu Fati, Riqui Puig and Ronald Araújo will definitely ascend to the first team, along with Carles Aleñá who returns from Real Betis. Matheus Fernandes will also return after a loan with few opportunities and points to a new transfer, and with Francisco Trincao and Pedri decisions will have to be made. Given their youth and the need to adapt, they could stay or hang out for a while at another club. In the chamber they remain homegrown such as Monchu, Álex Collado and Juan Miranda, who could be promoted or transferred or transferred with the option to buy back.
The great names of Barça’s summer are Lautaro Martinez and Eric Garcia. We will have to wait until the month of August to give the coup de grace, when the participation of their teams in the Champions League and Europa League ends. The push and pull for the striker should be resolved with Junior and a few extra million, and the central defender’s decision will be decisive to see if he manages to leave Manchester City. More operations are not ruled out, but these are a priority and then it will be consulted if more touch-ups are needed or if the exchanges allow us to tackle impossible tasks such as the one that Neymar’s return implies for the moment.
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