Barcelona’s agreement to sign Ferran Torres from Manchester City has raised questions over Philippe Coutinho’s future.
In a deal reported to be worth £55m ahead of the January transfer window, the 21-year-old Spanish forward is set to leave City after only arriving for £20m from Valencia in the summer of 2020.
The Catalan club’s financial troubles were well-documented this summer, with their sizable wage bill the reason for Lionel Messi’s departure to PSG.
However, Barcelona have since received investments via a bank loan, meaning they are able to stump up the cash for the transfer fee - but former Liverpool man Coutinho could still be on the move.
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Though Sergio Aguero has been forced to retire prematurely due to a heart condition, Barcelona will likely need to further reduce their playing squad in order to comply with La Liga’s financial rules.
This has brought former Llverpool hero Coutinho’s prospects at the Camp Nou into question, given the significant wages he has earned since his £142m move in 2018.
Coutinho , whose current deal is set to expire in 2023, has been a regular for Xavi’s Barcelona side but has not reclaimed the starring role expected of him following such a high-profile deal.
The ex-Red has been tentatively linked with a return to the Premier League by various outlets, but Barcelona fans have already made their feelings clear on Twitter, ahead of the transfer market re-opening next month.
@CheGiaevara: Unless they manage to move big players (Coutinho, Dembélé for starters), which has been a major issue previously at Barcelona, I cannot see how they are able to get Ferran Torres registered for LaLiga at this time. Seems like some weird form of Russian Roulette being played.
@OrigenCule1899: Apparently Ferran Torres will be a new Barça player. What excites me the most are still the exits. A sale of Lenglet, Coutinho or Umtiti !!
@BalonoBarbarie: What makes you more excited that Ferran Torres is coming or that Coutinho and Umtiti will not be called up with Barça again? It is necessary to release salary mass to register the signings. Let's start 2022 well, please.
@Asorix: Small explanation very popularized on why 55m on Torres is not so expensive. Annual salary cost of Coutinho and Umtiti: 44 million euros. You fire both, you're more than good in the short and medium term lol
@CruyffistaDNA: Barça will have to sell to register Ferran Torres and if the club has made this financial effort it is because they have anticipated and planned sales for this winter. Lenglet Umtiti Coutinho Dest Luuk De Jong etc
@plerratta: With the renewal of Dembele down and the safe exits of Demir and Luuk de Jong + the possible ones of Coutinho and Umtiti there will be no problem to register Ferran Torres.
