Barcelona Could Sell Up To Nine Players This Summer

Barcelona play their last game of the season against Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday but for up to nine of their players it could be their last game for Ernesto Valverde's team.

You know you're quite good when winning the domestic double counts as a bit of a disappointment but that's the reality that faces Barcelona, even if they do win the Copa del Rey final.

At the beginning of the season Lionel Messi said that the club's main objective this season was to bring home the Champions League for the first time in four years, after Real Madrid's three in a row.

Whilst the title won't be heading back to their fiercest rivals it also won't be heading to the Camp Nou either after the Catalan Giants epic fail against Liverpool in the Champions League semi final.

Ernesto Valverde will be desperate to end the club's failure in the competition next season and has already started building the squad with Frenkie de Jong already confirmed as joining.

Antoine Griezmann may join and Matthijs de Ligt is also strongly linked with joining fellow Ajax player De Jong at the Nou Camp but according to SPORT it's the exit door that could be the busiest.

The Spanish paper says that up to nine of Jasper Cillessen, Jeison Murillo, Thomas Vermaelen, Samuel Umtiti, Rafinha, Ivan Rakitic, Malcom, Philippe Coutinho and Kevin Prince Boateng won't be at the club next season.

Coutinho looks likely to leave this summer. Image: PA Images

Murillo and Boateng were loaned in January until the end of the season, with the latter being one of the biggest transfer surprises going, but neither is likely to extend their stay beyond the summer.

Back up goalkeeper Cillessen is due to play against Valencia, due to Marc-André ter Stegen's injury, but wants to play more in the first team and has been linked with Benfica.

Vermaelen's deal ends in the summer and his injury history puts paid to any chance of him signing a new contract whilst Umtiti could be replaced by De Ligt.

Umtiti has been overtaken by Lenglet in the pecking order this season. Image: PA Images

Once again this season Rafinha has struggled with injuries and is unlikely to be at Barca next season, although he could move on a loan deal.

Coutinho and Malcom have only been at the club 18 months and a year respectively but could be sold to make way for Griezmann.

The least likely to move is Rakitic however the paper does say the club will listen to offers and there's likely to be plenty of interest.

How will Barca line up next season?

Topics: valencia, Football News, Barcelona, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Transfer news, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Ernesto Valverde, Spanish football, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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