The three players that could leave Barcelona next week
Barcelona are set to continue their busy transfer window and they’re going to make some key sales before deadline day on 31 August, as they look to trim the squad.
The club have purchased five players this year and let go of a few others as they hope to challenge on all fronts, and that trend is set to continue in the final week of the transfer period.
The Blaugrana already identified players they wanted to sell earlier in the window, but have only just been able to find the right deals for them as they want to let go of players they will rarely use.
A few star names could make big transfers this week, having already agreed deals or been in advanced negotiations with others to leave the Camp Nou.
Three players set to leave Barcelona
The player most likely to go is forward Memphis Depay, who only joined Barcelona last summer and is set to make a move to Juventus on a free transfer.
The forward was keen to stay, only considering a departure if he went to a Champions League club, and his wish will now come true as he will terminate his Barcelona deal to join the Turin side.
In return, Juventus will forego the €2 million in variables they are owed from the transfer of Miralem Pjanic back in 2020, and they will get the Dutch forward on a free deal instead.
Depay and Juventus haven’t yet reached an agreement on personal terms, but it’s something that shouldn’t be an issue, according to reports in Spain.
The other player that could leave is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who is set for Chelsea and will reunite with Thomas Tuchel, having worked with him at Borussia Dortmund before.
Thomas Tuchel absolutely LOVES Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang! 👀#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/EVujsbin3P
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 12, 2022
Chelsea will fork out a fee of around €25 million for the Gabon forward – money that is useful to Barcelona as they wish to register players – and the player himself has given his approval over the move.
Xavi’s wish was to keep Aubameyang, who only joined in January and had a quick impact, but for the money involved, it seems like a good deal to conclude.
Finally, Samuel Umtiti could also finally leave the club, with Italian outfit Lecce set to take the player on a loan, with Barcelona set to pay his wages.
Umtiti has been troubled by injury issues since 2018, and has been up for transfer since then, with Lecce now willing to take him on.
In return, Barcelona will get some bonuses based on the number of games he plays with the team, making this a worthwhile deal for the Blaugrana.
Others such as Sergino Dest, Martin Braithwaite and Frenkie de Jong are also being talked up, but their exits may happen closer to deadline day, if at all.