- 7 hours ago
Koeman offers Barca transfer update: If there are no signings, it’s because of the club
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 17 May 2021 21:03 BST
- 2 min read
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman has indicated that he wants to add to his squad in January but if he cannot it will be due to the club.
Lyon attacker Memphis Depay has been linked with a switch to Camp Nou over the next month. So too has Manchester City centre-back Eric Garcia.
Both deals may be stymied, however, by the club’s financial troubles. Barca are under an obligation to cut their wage bill before the end of the season.
Furthermore, any business will be complicated by the club’s presidential election on January 24.
Koeman, however, says the groundwork for deals has been put in place with technical secretary Ramon Planes.
“If no-one comes, it’s because of the club, the money,” Koeman told the press on Saturday.
“The only thing I’ve done with Ramon Planes is prepare for the future. We talk about young people and positions that must improve the quality of.
“We’re prepared so that when the new president arrives we will talk about it.
“We have a plan, but it is the new president who has to make the decisions.”
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Koeman: Players will leave Barca in January
Koeman admitted, too, that Barcelona must seek to reduce their numbers over the course of the next month.
“I think that for some they have to play games and they will find it difficult at this club,” the coach, who also claimed uncertainty over the future of star man Lionel Messi is “no problem”, confirmed. “We also want to strengthen the squad.”
Barca have endured a torrid start to the season. They find themselves sixth in La Liga, 10 points behind leaders Atletico Madrid, having played a game more.
The Catalans face a hectic week in which they will travel to bottom club Huesca, Athletic Club and Granada over the space of six days.
