Revealed: The player most likely to save Barcelona by leaving
FT Desk
- 12 Aug 2022 11:28 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona need to offload players fast if they are to register new signings for the coming campaign, but so far they have only managed to sell Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa.
Barca have spent €160 million on Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde whilst also picking up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie and re-signing Ousmane Dembele and Sergi Roberto.
Still wrestling with a €1 billion debt, the club have activated financial levers - selling a percentage of future revenues set against liquid capital now - but they still need to offload players if they are to satisfy La Liga regulations in time for Saturday's season kick-off against Rayo Vallecano.
Memphis has changed his mind... He now wants OUT of Barcelona https://t.co/hYHMuo4bVJ
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 2, 2022
Barcelona have been trying to sell Frenkie de Jong to Manchester United all summer, but the Dutchman is standing firm in his desire to stay at Camp Nou, with the club still owing him €20m in deferred wages.
Walking out, Memphis?
But the Catalan giants could get some respite with Memphis Depay the most likely player to leave in time. Juventus had been expected to complete his transfer for a nominal fee with Barcelona simply relieved to get his €270,000 a week salary off the book, but now Tottenham Hotspur are ready to hijack their deal.
Spurs' Director of Football Fabio Paratici approached Barcelona earlier this week to discuss the possibility of a transfer, according to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
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"On Tuesday, contact with the Catalan side brought a great wave of optimism to Juventus," they write. "But late in the evening the intervention of Fabio Paratici has upset previously calm waters. Depay is obviously attracted to the Italian solution, but the idea of being able to return to the Premier League is distracting him."
Memphis previously played 53 games for Manchester United, contributing seven goals and six assists, before leaving for a successful four-year spell with Lyon.
