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Topics: Barcelona, Xavi, Ilkay Gundogan, La Liga, Samuel Umtiti
Josh Lawless
Topics: Barcelona, Xavi, Ilkay Gundogan, La Liga, Samuel Umtiti
Barcelona are looking to offload a quartet of players by the end of this week as they look to get the dead wood off their books.
The Blaugrana have just announced the signing of Ilkay Gundogan, fresh from captaining Manchester City to a historic treble, on a free transfer.
The Germany international has signed a two-year deal with the option of a third - with his contract containing a huge €400 million release clause.
It's also been reported that Gundogan will be able to leave the club straight away and earn his first yearly salary if Barca are unable to register him.
In recent times Barca have had to get rid of players before they could confirm signings and while the situation appears to improve, the La Liga champions are still actively trying to trim the wage bill for next season.
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According to Diario Sport, there are four priority departures they are trying to accelerate before July rolls around.
And they all involve players who were on loan in the 2022/23 season, with Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti, Sergino Dest and Alex Collado all at the top of the list.
Lenglet was at Spurs last term and it's believed the North London side are in talks over taking on the former Sevilla man permanently.
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Umtiti and Dest were both in Serie A with Lecce and AC Milan respectively, while Collado spent the season with Elche as they finished bottom of La Liga.
All are deemed surplus to requirements and Barca are pushing hard to get them out the door imminently. Umtiti wants to return to Lyon but in regards to Dest and Collado, there hasn't been much talk of any interested sides.
Barca are close to bringing in defender Inigo Martinez from Athletic Bilbao on a free and have identified 18-year-old Brazilian Vitor Roque as a top target.
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Asked about activity by reporters when spotted in Germany, director of football Mateu Alemany said: “There is a lot of time left in the transfer market and it has just begun".