Koeman's plea for signings rejected by Barcelona hierarchy
Martin Macdonald
- 13 Aug 2021 13:01 BST
- 4 min read
Ronald Koeman will have to work with what he has at Barcelona after seeing a desperate request for more signings rejected by club directors.
This summer the Blaugrana have signed Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia on free transfers, while Emerson Royal has joined from Real Betis for a relatively nominal fee.
However, the club's horrendous financial state means that these players have not yet been registered to play in La Liga.
New regulations stipulated by La Liga state that club's will not be allowed to spend more than 70% of their annual turnover on player wages.
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At the moment, Barcelona's wage bill stands at around 95% of their current turnover, meaning that will need to be drastically reduced.
Until cuts are made, no new signing will be allowed to be registered for the Spanish top flight.
This is the reason Lionel Messi has ultimately joined Paris Saint-Germain, as even though the Argentine agreed a new five-year deal to remain at Camp Nou, he would count as a new signing as his previous contract expired in June.
On Messi's previous deal, Barcelona's wage bill was around 110% of their turnover.
As well as Messi leaving, Barca have received another blow after the news that Aguero will miss 10 weeks of action due to a calf injury.
The Blaugrana are now desperately light up top which has led to Koeman asking for reinforcements.
According to Spanish outlet Sport, Koeman had a meeting with Barca directors Mateu Alemany and Ramon Planes on Friday in which the Dutchman requested new signings, only for the demands to be rejected.
What does Koeman want?
In the summer Koeman requesting two main signings - Memphis and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Though Memphis arrived, Wijnaldum eventually chose to sign for PSG after receiving a much more lucrative offer.
This was a hammer blow to Barcelona's plans as Koeman had been campaigning for Wijnaldum to be signed for well over six months as the midfielder's contract at Liverpool was winding down.
The Dutchman desperately wants a new midfielder, and according to Sport, would be willing to accept someone not quite as good as Wijnaldum just to get some numbers in his ranks.
At the moment, Barcelona have Frenkie de Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Sergi Roberto, Miralem Pjanic, and Riqui Puig who can play in central midfield.
A new striker has now become the number one priority after Messi's departure and Aguero's injury.
Antoine Griezmann can play up top but he is usually preferred as a wide forward, which leaves Martin Braithwaite.
The Denmark international has never and will never be first choice in Catalunya, with the club open to offers for him this summer.
The only way a new striker will be purchased is if the club receives money for Braithwaite.
As well as he, Barcelona are actively looking for buyers for basically all of their players, with Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti the two players they are hoping to get rid of with the most urgency due to their high wages.
