Who Are The Players FC Barcelona Could Sign On A Free Transfer This Summer?

FC Barcelona will not be able to spend close to $300mn on both Neymar and Lautaro Martinez this summer, with player-plus-cash swap deals set to become the norm while revenues continue to be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Figures exceeding €100mn ($110mn) may not be seen again for quite some time too, it is expected, and even outfits such as the Catalan giants may be forced to look at free agents as of June 30 to replenish their squad.

This morning in Spain, Mundo Deportivo has drawn up a shortlist of potential acquisitions the sports daily newspaper predicts rivals such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus, likewise asking their current stars to take pay cuts, could challenge the Blaugrana for.

A target of Barça’s in past windows, Brazil Copa America winner Willian said to Fox Sports in his homeland last week that, “Everyone knows my contract is up in a few months and it looks like it’ll be difficult to secure an extension. I think it’s unlikely that I’ll renew because Chelsea offered me a two-year deal, I asked for three and it ended there.”

It is still possible he dons Blaugrana colors, of course. Yet SPORT have reported that Kia Joorabchian, who also represents Philippe Coutinho, has already offered his client to FCB, who turned the 31-year-old down. “The Chelsea man is asking for a big wage and a three-year contract. Barça would prefer to sign someone younger,” informed Lluis Miguelsanz.

Elsewhere at Stamford Bridge, Olivier Giroud was an earmarked January transfer window recruit when Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele had suffered injuries. At 33, however, age also stands against him, as in the case of Pep Guardiola era icon Pedro. If Neymar and Lautaro can be lured, there is no need for either a striker or a winger.

Speaking of Neymar once more, or rather his employers, a bunch of PSG big names are nearing expiry.

They include Suarez’s international teammate Edinson Cavani, formerly linked to Atletico Madrid, Thiago Silva, whose apparent wish to play with Lionel Messi was relayed last month, and Thomas Meunier, fancied by Borussia Dortmund.

Of them all, however, it is Layvin Kurzawa who is most likely to be approached with back up needed for Jordi Alba when the unimpressive Junior Firpo has been moved on.

Back to the Premier League PINC , though, Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League finalist Jan Vertonghen can also fill in at left back whenever not occupying the center of the defensive line. Up north, David Silva – one of Manchester City’s all-time greats – is meant to be on his way to Barça coach Quique Setien’s old club Real Betis, but nothing is written in stone.

Around the rest of Europe, Dries Mertens passed his audition, if he were to be picked up, by netting against Barça in the Champions League last 16 first leg in February.

Akin to Thiago Silva, Giorgio Chiellini at Juventus is another world-class 35-year-old center back, but has suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in recent history while failing to complete 90 minutes in Serie A since August.

Last but not least, Mario Gotze officially announced on Thursday that he will leave boyhood club Borussia Dortmund. Tipped to join a mid-level Premier League suitor such as Everton or West Ham, his experience as a World Cup and serial Bundesliga victor cannot be overlooked, despite falling short of early expectations that were made of him.