Barcelona’s transfer trap – No market for fringe players while top names refuse to leave | OneFootball

Barcelona president Joan Laporta continues to speak with confidence about the club’s transfer plans this summer, but the truth behind the scenes is very different.

Despite his optimism, Barcelona are still far from being in a position to freely spend money on new players, especially on a top-level winger.

As of now, the club’s only real financial relief comes from cutting wages, not making actual profits from transfers. That was clear in the recent case of Clement Lenglet.

He was moved on to ease the wage burden, but there is still uncertainty about whether Barcelona will have to pay him part of the remaining year on his contract.

The same kind of situation could arise with Ansu Fati, who is being linked with Monaco. Other players like Andreas Christensen, Pablo Torre, and Pau Victor are not expected to bring in big fees either.

It is clear that Barcelona want to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams this summer, but the deal is tricky, as the La Liga club has made it clear that they will not allow a payment in instalments.

If Barça want the player, they must pay the full amount of his release clause upfront and in full. That is where the challenge lies.

Who is the right player to sell?

Ter Stegen does not want to leave. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Barcelona are not short of valuable assets. They have several players who are admired across Europe. However, selling them is not as straightforward as it may seem, as each case comes with its own set of issues.

Frenkie de Jong, for example, has decided he wants to renew his contract. With his high wages and reluctance to leave, it is unlikely that even Manchester United would come in with a big offer.

Then there is Marc-André ter Stegen, who is happy at the club and also not pushing for a move. That rules out two of the club’s most valuable assets.

Meanwhile, clubs like Manchester City are interested in Dani Olmo, Paris Saint-Germain are looking at Gavi, and Bayern Munich are keeping an eye on the highly versatile Fermin Lopez.

But Barcelona are not open to selling any of them, at least not at cut-price fees. They are considered part of the club’s future.

Eric Garcia has received interest from other clubs, but the amount being offered is not significant enough to help with the club’s finances. In short, none of these options solve the core issue.

The Ronald Araujo case

Ronald Araujo is wanted by top clubs. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

That leaves Ronald Araujo as the only realistic high-value option. The Uruguayan defender has interest from big clubs in both the Premier League and Serie A. Manchester United and Juventus are both watching his situation closely.

Though he recently extended his contract until 2031, the agreement includes a clause that could allow him to leave under certain conditions, especially if he is not central to Hansi Flick’s plans.

Still, there is one major roadblock: the players themselves. As sporting director Deco recently said, no one wants to leave Barcelona.

Even those who know they might not be starters are happy to stay at the club. That makes any major sale even more complicated.