The January transfer window might have closed around Europe, but there’s plenty of gossip swirling around as clubs prepare to make moves in the summer. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals.
TOP STORY: Busquets, Alba to lead Barca exodus
Barcelona could be forced to move on up to four first-team players this summer in order to meet LaLiga‘s financial fair play rules, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The Spanish outlet says that the league leaders will need to reduce their wage bill by €200 million, with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Franck Kessie and Sergi Roberto all tipped to leave Camp Nou.
Busquets, 34, and Roberto, 31, both are on deals that expire in June and look unlikely to be renewed, while Alba’s contract expires in 2024 and the 33-year-old left-back could be shifted on as coach Xavi Hernandez looks to guide the Blaugrana into a new era.
Kessie will also evaluate his options at the end of the season amid interest from clubs in the transfer market. As the midfielder signed as a free agent, any transfer would represent profit for Barca.
Meanwhile, if another forward is signed, the respective futures of Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are also in doubt.
One player that is not going anywhere, according to the report, is Frenkie de Jong. After a drawn-out transfer saga last summer that nearly saw the Netherlands international join Manchester United, the 25-year-old has consolidated his place in Xavi’s team and is now considered key to the coach’s plans.
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