Barcelona is preparing for another revolutionary summer, but the club will need to sell before reshaping a group that has underperformed this season.
With 25 games played, last year’s La Liga winners trail current leaders Real Madrid by eight points — and with Xavi set to retire at the conclusion of the season, they are already combining future planning with salvaging what is left from this campaign.
Barça face a double crunch on Wednesday. Winning the first leg against Napoli is not only crucial for their Champions League aspirations, but also their financial future. Without significant revenue increase, they risk breaching La Liga’s financial rules by 2024-25.
Barcelona faces a financial crunch after La Liga drastically cut their permitted salary limit from €648 million to €270 million. This means their current squad cost, exceeding €492 million, violates league rules and requires player sales before new signings. While president Laporta remains optimistic, all signs point towards unavoidable departures to balance the books.
While rumors swirl, one thing’s clear: Barcelona is open to offloading most players, according to club sources. Only a select few are deemed untouchable. Buckle up, because this summer transfer window promises to be a busy one at Camp Nou.
Frenkie de Jong
De Jong-Barca saga resurfaces: Similarities to 2022’s €80m United offer raise questions about midfielder’s future. Will history repeat itself, or will a transfer materialize this time?
Barcelona are pushing to retain midfielder Frenkie de Jong by offering him a new contract extension, despite his current deal running until 2026. This multi-year offer wouldn’t involve a pay cut for De Jong, but extending his contract would benefit the club financially.
By spreading De Jong’s overall cost over a longer period, Barcelona can ease compliance with La Liga’s spending regulations. Currently, they have €30 million remaining to amortize from the €85 million transfer fee paid to Ajax in 2019. Extending his contract allows for smoother accounting and helps them stay within financial boundaries.
Adding up the money owing to Ajax, the pay remaining on his contract, and the earnings he is still owed, De Jong’s cost in Barcelona’s budget over the next two years is approximately €76 million. If a multi-year extension is agreed upon, this can be spread out.
De Jong’s team has not formally responded to Barca. According to sources acquainted with the offer, the club is little apprehensive because they have made it obvious that if De Jong does not sign the contract, Barca would want to sell.
Despite transfer rumors, De Jong, enjoying stability at Barcelona, might resist change. Recently a father, he values personal happiness. However, extending his contract before understanding Barcelona’s long-term plan, which faces its own uncertainties, poses a gamble for the 26-year-old whose deal ends in 2026.
Financial bombshell: De Jong’s wages threaten to torpedo any deal! On top of his already substantial salary, Barcelona are obligated to pay him additional deferred pandemic dues. This financial burden, inherited from the previous regime, makes it incredibly difficult to find a club willing to meet both Barca’s asking price AND De Jong’s personal terms. Is this transfer destined to hit a financial wall?
Ronald Araujo
Barcelona’s commitment to young talent is evident in their designation of “untouchables,” a group deemed essential for the club’s future. Uruguayan defender Ronald Araujo, boasting one of the highest market values in the squad, falls within this category alongside Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. The 24-year-old, who joined in 2018, is a key piece in the club’s long-term vision.
While publicly denying any intention to sell, sources within Barcelona acknowledge Araujo would be the most tempting option to cash in on if a substantial offer arrives. He’s one of the few players expected to attract bids over €65m after this season, as evidenced by Bayern Munich’s rejected €75m offer in January. Both club and player denied entertaining the offer or reaching any personal terms with Bayern.
Despite signing a contract extension last year, defender Ronald Araujo could be tempted by offers from other clubs. While his loyalty to Barcelona is unquestionable, sources within the club reveal a discrepancy between his salary and teammate Frenkie de Jong’s. This pay gap, coupled with potential lucrative offers elsewhere, could ignite transfer speculation in the near future.
Araujo, like De Jong, is a player who is completely content with his life in Barcelona, and he and his partner had their second kid this year. There are no urgent plans for him to depart, and the club’s ideal scenario is to continue relying on a player who has established himself as a team captain and a vital presence in the locker room.
Last week, the player’s agents met with Barcelona officials, including sporting director Deco, to discuss extending his contract beyond 2026. While the club desires to keep him and have expressed willingness to negotiate, several hurdles stand in the way.
Firstly, the financial aspect: Barcelona’s salary offer might fall short of what the player could command on the open market. Secondly, the team’s current glut of central defenders, including Araujo, Kounde, Martinez, Christensen, and rising prospect Cubarsi, raises questions about playing time and competition.
Therefore, despite initial optimism, discussions are currently on hold. Both sides need to find a solution that addresses the player’s value and the club’s needs before a new deal materializes.
In addition, the club has been heavily connected to exercising its €7 million repurchase option for 20-year-old Morocco international Chadi Riad, whom they sold to Real Betis last summer. Garcia has been making an impression while on loan at Girona and is expected to return.
None of the other three senior center backs in the first squad could generate anywhere close to the transfer money that Araujo could fetch. Barca also hopes to provide Cubarsi a direct route to playing football with the first team come next season.
There’s a chance Bayern won’t make a second attempt in the summer because their January approach was a request from Thomas Tuchel, whose job as manager appears to be in jeopardy (he may be a candidate Barca looks at to replace Xavi). Another possible destination could be the Premier League.
Barcelona needs Araujo’s fortitude, morals, and on-field abilities. However, this summer, they will have to determine whether or not their financial demands take precedence.
Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski’s play was lacking in the second half of the previous season, and this season he hasn’t been able to improve on that performance either.
Expectedly, big-name players (who command high contracts) who are underperforming will come under close scrutiny when things go wrong at a team like Barcelona. These qualities are present in Lewandowski, and his future has recently generated a lot of discussion in Catalonia.
The striker, whose performance has declined since he had such a strong debut season in 2022–2023 (finishing as La Liga’s top scorer with 23 goals), is reportedly open to receiving a large offer from a prestigious package. Still, the player has the upper hand in this situation.
Spanish media reports claim Robert Lewandowski’s Barcelona contract is worth €26 million annually, but the fourth year is not guaranteed. He needs to play in over 55% of matches in the 2024-25 season to activate it. This raises questions about his long-term future at the club.
Despite this uncertainty, Lewandowski seems content in Catalonia. He’s settled in the coastal town of Castelldefels, similar to Lionel Messi during his Barcelona years. This suggests he might not be receptive to a potential summer sale, even if explored by the club.
Despite the rumors, realistic destinations for Lewandowski are scarce. Few clubs can afford his transfer fee and high wages, with Saudi Arabia seemingly the only interested party. This option, however, isn’t on the player’s radar.
President Laporta might hold onto hope through his relationship with Lewandowski’s agent, Pini Zahavi, who facilitated the transfer from Bayern. But even with their combined efforts, convincing a happy Lewandowski to leave seems improbable. He’s enjoying his time at Barcelona more than ever, mirroring Messi’s long and successful tenure.
Gavi
Following Mbappé’s departure, PSG are actively seeking replacements, with Barcelona’s young star Gavi emerging as a potential target.
Head coach Luis Enrique, who gave Gavi his senior Spain debut at 17, holds him in high regard, as does president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. PSG even pursued him last summer during his registration complications under La Liga rules.
Currently, a temporary court ruling allows him to play, but a permanent solution is needed. This situation, combined with his talent, potentially makes him available for a lucrative transfer.
While Barcelona considers Gavi “unsellable”, their financial woes cast doubt on any player’s true exclusivity. Gavi himself, a lifelong fan and key player, is reluctant to leave. His recent injury absence highlights his impact.
Sources suggest his character and priorities make a summer exit highly unlikely. His contract, expiring in 2026 with a €1 billion release clause, further complicates matters.
Raphinha
Despite a €60 million summer arrival just last year, Barcelona are reportedly open to selling Brazilian winger Raphinha. The inconsistency of his performances, despite decent goal and assist numbers, appears to have fallen short of expectations.
Raphinha’s Barcelona dream faces a setback as 16-year-old Yamal’s emergence threatens his starting spot on the right flank. Despite initial struggles for consistency, Raphinha carved his niche after Dembele’s injury, even amidst competition from Fati and Torres. However, Yamal’s impressive performances during Raphinha’s latest injury have seemingly relegated him to the bench.
Barca views Yamal as a long-term solution and sees Ferran Torres as his ideal partner, leaving Raphinha’s future uncertain. Three options emerge: a switch to the left flank, backup role, or potential sale. Sources suggest the latter may be most likely, despite Raphinha’s comfort and desire to prove himself at the highest level. His high profile and potential interest from the Premier League and Saudi Arabia make him a viable departure candidate.
While Raphinha hasn’t expressed a desire to leave, the competition and Barca’s apparent shift towards Yamal and Torres cast doubt on his long-term future at the Camp Nou.