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Barcelona 'ordered to lower wage bill by £177m'

Barcelona 'ordered to lower wage bill by £177m'
© Reuters
Barcelona are allegedly told that they must lower their wage bill by £177m during the summer transfer window.

Barcelona are reportedly told that they must reduce their wage bill by £177m during the summer transfer window.

The Catalan giants are currently enjoying a much-improved campaign in La Liga, holding an eight-point lead over champions Real Madrid at the top of the standings.

However, while Xavi's side are excelling on the pitch, there remains uncertainty behind the scenes at Camp Nou due to their well-documented financial situation.

In order to fulfil certain criteria in 2022, the club's hierarchy secured economical levers and sold percentages of future television revenue.

That approach was taken to enable Barcelona to make a number of high-profile signings, giving them the best possible chance of continuing to compete with Real Madrid.

Barcelona's Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring against Real Sociedad on January 25, 2023© Reuters

Although that short-term objective has been achieved, Barcelona missed out on budgeted prize money from the Champions League due to their early exit, instead leaving them with Europa League football for the second half of the campaign.

Barcelona must also find solutions for other financial issues further down the line, and La Liga has seemingly informed the current frontrunners of their obligations ahead of 2023-24.

According to reports in Spain, Barcelona must ensure that they lower their wage bill by €200m (£177.2m) when the market reopens in the summer.

That would effectively leave Barcelona to try to raise funds through player sales and potentially renegotiate contracts like they have done in the past.

Sergio Busquets in action for Barcelona on September 13, 2022© Reuters

Barcelona currently hold an interest in extending the stays of club legends Sergi Roberto and Sergio Busquets past the end of the season, but their departures would help boost their efforts to meet the relevant criteria.

The report suggests a number of other players could come into consideration for an exit, including Jordi Alba whose contract is due to expire in 2024.

Franck Kessie, Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are also mentioned as potential options for a sale.

When quizzed on the future of Fati on Thursday, president Joan Laporta said, as quoted by journalist Fabrizio Romano: "We are not thinking of selling Ansu Fati as of now, he's loved here — then I cannot predict the future. His agent told us there are clubs keen on signing Ansu Fati, yes."

Although a recent report suggested that Manchester United were admirers of the Spain international, Barcelona are allegedly ready to demand £90m for his signature.

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Barcelona's Pedri celebrates a goal later disallowed with Sergi Roberto on January 12, 2023
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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