Ernesto Valverde is looking to clear some deadwood out from his Barcelona squad in the new year, with the Barca boss allowing three players to leave the Catalan club in January.
Sport in Spain are reporting that Valverde wants to make his squad smaller in order to make it easier to manage in a clearout that will likely see Arda Turan, Thomas Vermaelen and Aleix Vidal leave the Camp Nou.
Turan was originally put up for sale in the summer, but didn't want to leave the club, turning down a loan move back to Turkey. The former Turkey captain had also been linked with a return to Atletico Madrid but now it's believed that the only offer on the table is from an unnamed club in the Chinese Super League, but it's unlikely he'll want to move there.
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Turan has seen his first team chances at the Camp Nou reduced recently and hasn't made a single appearance for the club, this season. Image: PA
Vermaelen, meanwhile, is well liked and rated at the club, but his constant injury problems have limited the Belgian centre-half to just 22 appearances in three seasons, with the former Arsenal defender also spending some time on loan at Roma, last term. Vermaelen's desperation to be named in Roberto Martinez's Belgium squad for next summer's World Cup in Russia is also behind Barca's willingness to sell the 31-year-old.
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Most of Vermaelen's time at the Camp Nou has been spent on the sidelines. Image: PA
Vidal was originally used by Valverde in his first few games in charge, but is now believed to be surplus to requirements, with Barca hopeful they can recoup most of the 18 million euros they paid for him in 2015. The 28-year-old was signed at the same time as Turan, two years ago, while the Blaugrana were under a UEFA enforced transfer embargo. The Spanish full-back has only managed to make 33 appearances during his time with the club, however.
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Vidal started the season in Ernesto Valverde's plans, making five La Liga appearances, but has since been deemed surplus to requirements and could be part of Barca's new years clearout. Image: PA
Barca are also looking at reducing their wage bill, which would also explain their desire to part with the trio, while Sport also claim that Brazilian midfielder Rafinha could be sold in the summer.
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(H/T Sport)
Topics: Football News, Arda Turan, Football, Barcelona, La Liga