BARCELONA showed debts reaching £1.1 billion in their latest annual financial report with the club suffering heavy losses from the coronavirus pandemic.
The Spanish heavyweights have also been burdened by recent mega-money signings and a bloated wage bill, which accounts for over 80 per cent of their expenditure.
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Barcelona have £112m in transfer fees owed to other clubs for the signings of Philippe Coutinho, Frenkie de Jong and Malcom plus several others.
And reports in Spain claim that the players have not yet received a payment due in December – despite agreeing to a temporary salary reduction.
Here, SunSport takes a closer look at the FIVE most likely players Barcelona could sell this summer to balance the books – according to odds supplied by Betfair.
Antoine Griezmann – 8/11
French forward Antoine Griezmann cost a whopping £108m when signed from rivals Atletico Madrid in July 2019.
He signed a five-year deal until June 2024 worth a reported £345,000-a-week.
The 29-year-old struggled during his debut campaign, scoring just nine goals in 35 La Liga outings.
And though there have been signs that Griezmann is starting to adapt under manager Ronald Koeman – Betfair think he's the most likely departure this summer at 8/11.
To leave Barcelona in Summer Transfer Window
- Antoine Griezmann – 8/11
- Lionel Messi – 5/4
- Ousmane Dembele – 9/4
- Ansu Fati – 3/1
- Frenkie de Jong – 6/1
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Lionel Messi – 5/4
No, Barcelona will not receive a fee for superstar Lionel Messi unless they offload him before February 2.
But they could save an astronomical account in wages should they allow him to leave when his contract expires in June.
The Argentine magician, who has scored 648 goals for the club, is paid £584,000-a-week at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona can scarcely afford to offer Messi a contract extension and will still have to pay him a loyalty bonus if he leaves.
Ousmane Dembele – 9/4
This one looks fairly justifiable.
Betfair are offering odds of 9/4 on Ousmane Dembele being sold in the approaching summer transfer window.
Barca forked out £117m on the 23-year-old back in 2017 but injuries have limited him to 94 appearances in all competitions.
He now carries a value of £45m on Transfermarkt and has entered the final 18 months of his contract. Liverpool have previously been linked with the Frenchman.
Ansu Fati – 3/1
A limitless talent, but face the prospect of selling teenager Ansu Fati.
Fati, 18, burst onto the scene last season and has already racked up 13 goals and four caps for the Spanish national team.
Barcelona legend Samuel Eto'o claims Ansu Fati is the player capable of filling Lionel Messi's boots in the future.
But with claims that Manchester United previously had a £135m deal in place – Barca might opt to cash in.
Frenkie de Jong – 6/1
It would certainly be a surprise to see midfielder Frenkie de Jong leave this summer.
But Betfair have priced him at 6/1 to do just that.
The Netherlands star has been a regular under compatriot Koeman and signed a new five-year deal in October.
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