FC Barcelona have an overbooking problem this summer.
FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said recently that all of the team’s positions must be doubled in terms of how many players there are on hand.
And while this is essential in terms of back up for left back Jordi Alba and pivot Sergio Busquets, there is a case of ‘overbooking’ on the front line where the Blaugrana should offload before they can purchase.
Though he has become a cult hero at Camp Nou, Luuk de Jong’s loan is up at the end of the season and he will need to return to Sevilla. Barca have a purchase option on the aerial threat and are satisfied with him, but the club’s financial dire straits make it difficult to pull off any permanent deal.
The same logic applies to Adama Traore too. Impressing when he first arrived, the Wolves forward has petered out by playing just 63 minutes across the last nine matches.
Barca are highly unlikely to pay the fee between $30-40mn that his Premier
Different is Memphis Depay’s case. As he arrived on a free transfer from Lyon last summer, Barca could make a profit on their top scorer this season who has interest from Italy.
With his contract expiring in 2023, however, it will have to be a case of moving Depay on before the following campaign or also risk losing him for nothing next year.
Whether Ousmane Dembele renews is the great mystery, however. Once looking like he was certain to exit stage door left on June 30, the Frenchman has enjoyed an upturn in form under Xavi and seems like he wants to stay.
If he can finally agree to new terms, the winger looks certain to be a mainstay in the coach’s attacking plans alongside other immovable objects such as Ansu Fati and Ferran Torres.
Meanwhile, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fading as a striker, the search continues for a ‘killer’ number ‘9’ in the mould of young promise Erling Haaland or veteran Robert Lewandowski.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomsanderson/2022/05/03/revealed-the-overbooking-problem-that-fc-barcelona-have-to-resolve-this-summer/