Barcelona’s financial troubles are so bad that they cannot register any of their summer signings, according to reports in Spain.
According to Goal, the Spanish side have exceeded LaLiga’s strict salary limit and so until players leave, new arrivals signings like Sergio Aguero, Depay and Eric Garcia cannot be officially registered with La Liga.
Emerson has also arrived this summer as president Joan Laporta is having to get creative with majorly free transfers.
Lionel Messi is also a free agent after his Barcelona contract expired on June 30 and while talks remain ongoing with the Argentine, they need to clear salary space to re-register him.
Players are being pushed to leave the club, some by choice and some out of necessity for the urgent salary-cap situation.
Junior Firpo is now close to joining Premier League club Leeds United in a deal worth £13million.
The full-back’s exit would save the La Liga giants in the region of £8m per season.
- Man Utd handed Danny Ings huge boost after transfer enquiry
- Man Utd dealt Eduardo Camavinga blow as Rennes ‘laugh’ at proposed bid
- Pjanic & Samuel Umtiti reject Barcelona contract cancellations
Francisco Trincao has also been sent to the Premier League, in a loan deal with Wolves, who have an option to sign permanently.
Konrad De La Fuente has been sold to Marseille while Claire-Todibo has joined Nice, the combination of which saves them around £9m in wages and deal payments.
Matheus Fernandes saw his deal terminated recently and he is now reported to be chasing loss of earnings at court for what he feels is unfair.
Those exits are not enough and the Spanish side know it, which is why the immediate focus is on a some players that are currently surplus to requirements.
Samuel Umtiti, Coutinho and Pjanic are all being shopped around by Barca in their bid to shed €200m (£171m) from the wage bill.
Much of the wage-cutting is in order to secure a deal for Messi, who is out of contract.
The club legend is expected to stay at the Nou Camp, but his wages are huge and there will be no shortage of suitors for his signature if Barca don’t offer him what he is asking for.
