FC Barcelona would be open to selling Firpo, Umtiti, Fernandes, and Braithwaite, and let Aleñá leave on loan during the winter transfer window.
SPORT has reported that Barça has opened the doors to said players in order to make money and lower the salary expenses. The club wants a smaller squad to facilitate the possibilities of buying one or two reinforcements and incorporate more La Masía players during the second part of the season. The club is looking to continue the reconstruction that started during the summer transfer window, in which seven players were already sold.
Junior Firpo is the most advanced case. There have reportedly already been several offers from Italian sides for the 24-year-old left-back, most of them being loan deals with an option to buy. His most likely destinations are rumored to be Inter Milan and Napoli, with the latter team wanting a one and a half-season loan. Barça does not want to sell Firpo for anything under €20 million, as his former side Real Betis keeps a percentage of the transfer sum.
Samuel Umtiti remains on the transfer market and would be open to being loaned out. The French defender was offered to various clubs in the summer, but a deal didn’t happen. However, he now realizes that Ronald Koeman doesn’t count on him and wants to regain his form. A possible deal is complicated because of Umtiti’s injury problems, but he is on the way back and could be fully fit by January. Olympique Lyonnais and AS Roma are interested and Barça hopes a loan deal would help rebuild his career.
Matheus Fernandes has reportedly already been told to look for a new destination. The Brazilian midfielder had some offers from clubs like AS Monaco during the summer, but his agents refused to negotiate. However, Fernandes would be open to a departure in order to not waste a year of his development. He could have offers from Spanish and Portuguese clubs.
Martin Braithwaite arrived at Barça after the club triggered his release clause last season, but the Danish forward has not gotten a lot of game time. Braithwaite’s departure would allow Barça to make a deal happen with Memphis Depay, but the former Leganés player is reluctant to leave as he believes his chances at Barça will come. There are reportedly interested clubs in the Premier League.
Carles Aleña will only be allowed to leave on loan, as the club believes he has a future at Barça. The homegrown midfielder is currently not a big part of Koeman’s plans, because he thinks he has enough midfielders, but he would like for Aleña to temporarily develop himself elsewhere. The 22-year-old is reportedly tired of waiting for opportunities and would prefer a loan move to another La Liga team, despite the fact that there are also several interested teams from the English and Italian leagues.
