Barcelona have roundly failed at trimming their squad in recent years. For several transfer windows there’s been a list of players who could be sold, but Barcelona seem to always struggle to get rid of the wages they need to.
The front page of Saturday’s Mundo Deportivo once again details who is being edged towards the exit, and one of those is Gerard Deulofeu. The Everton transfer has turned out to be a flop for Barcelona so far, and perhaps buying him just because he was cheap wasn’t the best idea.
In an alternative reality, Deulofeu would now be at AC Milan taking Serie A by storm, but he’s currently struggling to get Barcelona prominence despite transfers and injuries falling his way.
Barcelona didn’t want to give up their €12m to sign the player from Everton, and would have likely sold him on immediately had it not been for clauses in the deal. Even if they sell in January, Barcelona will need Everton’s permission, and likely have to send a percentage to Goodison Park, which could be why they’re asking for €20m.
Mundo Deportivo say Barca want Deulofeu’s €20m clause to be met, but they also want to sell him. It’s perhaps this kind of attitude which has left Barca with their inflated squad and wages.
Should stubbornness prevail then it can’t be ruled out that Barcelona keep Deulofeu, and keep paying his wages, until the Everton percentage clauses have run out.
On the theme of Barca’s January sales. Aleix Vidal should probably have more Premier League links than he does.
Fighting back last season to save his Barcelona career, Vidal then suffered a bad ankle injury and has now recovered from it. The 28 year old right back is certainly worth consideration if he’d be up for a move to England.
