SPAIN – Barcelona's financial troubles are so bad that they are currently unable to register any of their summer signings, according to reports in Spain.
The media reported that the Nou Camp side have exceeded LaLiga's strict salary limit and so until players are moved on, new arrivals such as Sergio Aguero (pix below), Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia cannot be officially registered with the league.
Emerson has also arrived this summer as President Joan Laporta is having to get creative with mainly free transfers, all while moving on high earners and those out of favour.
Argentinian wizard, Lionel Messi is also currently a free agent after his Barcelona contract expired last week and while negotiations remain ongoing with the Argentine, they need to clear salary space to re-register him.
Players are being pushed to the exit, some by choice and some out of sheer necessity for the urgent salary-cap situation.
Junior Firpo is close to joining Premier League side Leeds United in a deal worth just shy of £13million (RM75 million).
The full-back's exit would save Barca in the region of £8m (RM46.1 million) per season.
Francisco Trincao has also been sent to England, in a loan deal with Wolves, who hold an option to buy.
Konrad De La Fuente has been sold to Marseille while Jean Claire-Todibo has been moved to Nice, the combination of which saves the club around £9m (RM51.9 million) in wages and deal payments.
Matheus Fernandes saw his deal dramatically expunged recently and he is now said to be chasing loss of earnings at court for what he feels is unfair termination.
Those exits are not enough, and the club know it, which is why the immediate focus is on a trio of players that are surplus to requirements.
Samuel Umtiti, Philippe Coutinho and Miralem Pjanic are all being shopped around by Barcelona in their ambitious bid to shed £171m (RM986.6 million) from the wage bill.
Much of the wage-cutting is to secure a new deal for Messi, who is currently out of contract and at the Copa America with Argentina.
The club legend is expected to continue at the Nou Camp, but his wages are extortionate and there will be no shortage of suitors for his signature if Barcelona do not offer him what he is asking for.
Next season is a big one for Koeman and Barca after they dropped out of the LaLiga title race with games to spare last time out.
They finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, and Koeman's job will certainly be under threat if they do not improve on that position this time around. – Agencies, July 6, 2021.
