Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has scheduled meetings with four first-team players as he plans a squad clearout to create financial space for signing Lionel Messi this summer.
Messi is now expected to leave Paris Saint-Germain when his contract expires at the end of the current season, as reported by Mirror Football . Barcelona remain keen to sign the superstar, who celebrates his 36th birthday this summer, but that attempt may be difficult due to their ongoing financial difficulties.
The Argentine superstar joined the French club as a free agent on a two-year contract in the summer of 2021. However, the club are no longer prioritising his contract renewal and are now planning on building their squad without Messi.
In April, Barcelona transfer chiefs confirmed contact had been made with Messi regarding a potential return to the Camp Nou. There is also an offer on the table for the Argentine superstar from Saudi Arabia – but he prefers to stay in European football.
Big-name arrivals at the Camp Nou are unlikely without exits first. As reported in December by Sport, the Catalan club need to reduce their salary outgoings of €600million to €400m for next season in order to register new players and any new contracts.
That figure has been narrowed by the retirement of Gerard Pique and the exit of club captain Sergio Busquets this summer. However, it is believed that at least four more first-team squad players will need to go before new contracts – both of existing and new players – can be registered.
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There is an agreement in place to sign Spain international defender Inigo Martinez, whose contract at Athletic Bilbao will expire in June, while Barca are also hopeful of concluding a deal to sign Ilkay Gundogan. The central midfielder is happy at Manchester City but is open to a switch to the LaLiga champions this summer amid his own contractual uncertainty, with talks held between the respective parties.
Alongside any new signings this summer, Barca have to register new contracts for Gavi and Ronald Araujo. Failure to do so will leave the club at risk of losing star players for cut-price fees, while the club’s revenue next season will be cut as they will not be playing at Camp Nou – meaning they could miss out on up to €50million of matchday revenue.
A report in Catalan outlet Sport details how Xavi is now planning on holding talks with Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati, Franck Kessie and Jordi Alba, telling them that they will not form part of his plans next season as the club look to free-up funds to bolster their squad.
Barca secured their first LaLiga title in four years last weekend but will be aware they must continue to improve after a season of failure in Europe – they went out of the Champions League group stage before going out of the Europa League playoff round against Manchester United.
