Barcelona handed LIFELINE by Ligue 1 giants

Tom Weber

• 24 Jul 2023 16:24 BST
• 3 min read

Olympique Marseille could help Barcelona free up some financial wiggle room by signing one of their out-of-favour centre-backs, according to Spanish media.

The Blaugrana have still not fully overcome their financial difficulties and if they want to make more signings - or just trim down their squad - they will have to sell some players. Particularly in the centre-back department, there are several candidates that could yet get offloaded.

Samuel Umtiti's contract has already been terminated - after the World Cup winner compared his time at Barcelona to being in prison - and he has subsequently joined Lille in Ligue 1. Two more Barcelona outcasts could follow Umtiti to the French league.

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According to SPORT, Marseille are interested in Clement Lenglet and Eric Garcia. The Ligue 1 side have already invested significantly in their squad this summer in order to potentially mount a title challenge next term after finishing third last season. But the signing of Barcelona players could prove to be difficult.

Wage demands and good relations

The above-mentioned report states that Marseille likely will only be able to sign one of Lenglet and Garcia and it will probably be the latter as Lenglet's wage demands are said to be too steep for the French club. Indeed, the player, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham, favours a move to the Premier League.

Garcia is a more realistic target and Barcelona would be happy to get him off their wage bill, but the player reportedly wants to stay at the Camp Nou.

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Conducive to any potential negotiations will be the fact that Barcelona and Marseille have good relations due to Matheu Alemany and Pablo Longoria having been colleagues at Valencia.

The French giants have already tested the water and contacted Barcelona regarding the players, but nothing concrete has thus far developed.