Barcelona head coach Xavi has admitted that Barcelona still need to sell players in January in order to balance the books as Philippe Coutinho's future continues to be in doubt.
The Catalan club have signed Ferran Torres from Manchester City for £46.7m but are awaiting player sales in order to comply with financial regulations and officially register the winger.
Barcelona ’s well-documented financial troubles ultimately led to Lionel Messi’s departure to PSG, with Antoine Griezmann’s exit and Sergio Aguero’s early retirement also helping to ease the club’s wage bill.
However, Xavi has reiterated that outgoings are still very much a priority at the club, giving an update on Philippe Coutinho’s future as well as the latest on rumoured Liverpool target Ousmane Dembele’s contract negotiations.
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"It's time for Ousmane to make an effort and to think about himself and his future. The best option for him would be to stay at Barcelona," Xavi said, according to Spanish publication Sport.
"I have not spoken with Philippe. He's a great professional and always contributed when he plays.
"[But] for signings, there have to be exits, that's obvious.
"[Dani] Alves will be registered but with Ferran we will see with departures or if Ousmane renews.
"We need to balance the accounts [to make] signings. We're working on it, but I have not spoken with Philippe."
Dembele’s contract at the Camp Nou is due to expire at the end of the season, with talks ongoing over a possible renewal; while Coutinho still has 18 months remaining on his deal.
The club’s decision to pay Liverpool £142m for the Brazilian in 2018 is now seen as a key example of Barcelona’s overspending, with the ex-Red now being tentatively linked with a return to the Premier League.
Coutinho, who has made five league starts this season, is seen as a prime candidate to leave Barcelona this month due to the size of his salary and overall indifferent spell at the club.
Despite Xavi’s own admission that player sales are needed before Torres can be registered as a Barcelona player, however, the club have also been linked with a move for Naby Keita in recent days .
Able to stump up the cash for the Torres deal after agreeing a bank loan and restructuring some of their short-term debts, club president Joan Laporta sent a bullish transfer warning to Europe’s elite clubs, last week.
"Everybody should get ready, as we are back as big players in the market,” he said.
"You will allow me not to talk directly about players because it does not benefit us, all it does is increase their value.
"We are working to strengthen ourselves and we are working on players. We continue to be a benchmark.
"And we have returned, wanting to do very well. It is what we do every day, so that Barça regains the specific weight and status that it must have.
"Ferran is proof of this. He shows that Barça continues to be a reference for the top players. The resurgence is a reality and the market has noticed it."
