Cash-strapped Barcelona set for an ‘intense’ few days as chiefs bid to shed €200m from wage bill

Cash-strapped Barcelona are set for an ‘intense’ few days as chiefs bid to shed €200MILLION from their wage bill… with Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic, Sergi Roberto and Philippe Coutinho among stars tipped to leave this summer

  • Barcelona are low on cash and need to reduce their wage bill over the summer
  • Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic and Philippe Coutinho are on list of potential exits
  • An incredible €200m (£171m) could be shed in a bid to balance the Barca books
  • Lionel Messi is also out of contract and new deal will be offered in coming weeks

Cash-strapped Barcelona chiefs are set for an ‘intense’ few days as they bid to clear their over-inflated wage bill ahead of the new LaLiga season.

It is a time of major uncertainty at the Nou Camp, with Lionel Messi currently out of contract and the club vying to get rid of a host of top-earners in the coming weeks.

Mundo Deportivo report that the next few days are key for Barca chiefs, who need to ‘drastically reduce their spending’ and lower their wage bill by an incredible €200m (£171m).

Miralem Pjanic is among a long list of players that could be shipped out of Barcelona soon

Philippe Coutinho (left) is also among the stars Barca are keen to shed from their wage bill

Philippe Coutinho (left) is also among the stars Barca are keen to shed from their wage bill

The front page of Mundo Deportivo details the 'urgent exits and sales' at Barcelona

The front page of Mundo Deportivo details the ‘urgent exits and sales’ at Barcelona

Trincao was the first to leave this week, heading for a season-long loan at Wolves, but he will be far from the last to leave during a busy pre-season.

Among the names reportedly heading for the exit, be it temporary or permanent, are Samuel Umtiti, Miralem Pjanic, Philippe Coutinho, Carles Alena and Moussa Wague, while Junior Firpo is in England ahead of his £13m move to Leeds. 

Before the Euros, Martin Braithwaite had also been tipped to leave, but his impressive showing for Denmark may have given him an opportunity to stay another year at Barcelona to try and prove his worth.

Other ‘non-essential’ players such as Neto, Clement Lenglet and Sergi Roberto could also leave the club in what is set to be a huge overhaul for Ronald Koeman.

Much of the wage-cutting is in order to secure a new deal for Messi, who is currently out of contract and at the Copa America with Argentina.

Ronald Koeman is set to completely overhaul his first-team before a charge at the LaLiga title

Ronald Koeman is set to completely overhaul his first-team before a charge at the LaLiga title

Lionel Messi is also out of contract and is top of Barcelona's priority list during pre-season

Lionel Messi is also out of contract and is top of Barcelona’s priority list during pre-season

The club legend is expected to continue at the Nou Camp, but his wages are extortionate and there will be no shortage of suitors in for his signature if Barcelona don’t offer him what he is asking for.  

Next season is a big one for Koeman and Barca after they dropped out of the LaLiga title race with games to spare last time out.

They finished third behind Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, and Koeman’s job will certainly be under threat if they don’t improve on that position this time around.