FC Barcelona Agree To Negotiate Sale Of First Team Star With Arsenal: Reports

Arsenal have demanded to know FC Barcelona’s asking price for one of their misfit wingers, according to El Nacional.

The Blaugrana need to shave €200 million ($218 million) from the wage bill this summer if they want to sign new players and register their contracts – plus those of recently-renewed existing squad members – as warned by La Liga president Javier Tebas.

Their man target is Lionel Messi, who becomes a free man on June 30. But considering their economic woes and debts, Barca have had to draw up a viability plan to show La Liga they can make the numbers work.

Barca’s viability plan explains that the Catalans intend to make two big players sales and bring in four new players.

Aside from ‘untouchables’ such as Pedri, Gavi, and Ronald Araujo, practically every other player can be sold.

One particular area of the pitch where Barca have an open market for their players is on the wings. On either flank, president Joan Laporta and sporting director Mateu Alemany will listen to offers for Raphinha, Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres as Xavi opts for a four-man midfield where Gavi plays as a false left winger.

The system caters for just one pure wideman, who is Ousmane Dembele on the right wing. But Raphinha is giving him competition as seen by his goal-and-assist MVP display in a 4-0 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou on Saturday.

Over on the left, though, with Gavi occupying that channel, Fati or Torres can be moved on this summer and have potential suitors in the Premier
PINC
League.

According to El Nacional, Arsenal are particularly interested in signing Spain international Torres, who Barca paid €55 million ($60.6 million) for from Manchester City just a year ago.

The Londoners have already offered €25 million ($27.5 million) and are willing to go up to €30 million ($33 million), but Barca can’t sell him for less than €35 million ($38.6 million) and will accept any offer made for this amount.

Barca reportedly suggested involving Gabriel Martinelli in a part-exchange deal but were shut down by the Gunners who consider the Brazil star essential to Mikel Arteta’s sporting project at the Emirates.