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Barcelona have been far from their best this season, languishing in midtable and out of the Champions League. Before the January window, Xavi and his backroom staff will be having some serious discussions at Camp Nou.
It has been dubbed an 'exit operation' as the Catalan club will have to clear individuals off the books in order to make two signings in the January transfer window.
As many as five players might be released in the January transfer window. This will allow Barcelona to gain income from sales while simultaneously freeing up wage bill space to sign new players and comply with La Liga's salary cap laws. Let's take a closer look at those five players.
#1 Phillipe Coutinho
In January 2018, the Brazilian playmaker joined the Catalan club from Liverpool for a reported fee of €135 million, a record fee for an English club.
The Brazilian has mostly been on the sidelines since joining the club due to injury. He has been mostly injury-free this season but is yet to make an impact at the Camp Nou. The Brazilian has scored only two goals in his 12 appearances in La Liga. Coutinho was offered to both Manchester City and Manchester United in a swap arrangement involving Raheem Sterling or Ferran Torres and Anthony Martial.
Coutinho has only started four of the Blaugrana's 16 matches this season and despite the departure of a number of star players, he remains a minor figure at the club. It's unlikely he'll have the chance to persuade Xavi to change his mind before the January transfer window opens.
#2 Yusuf Demir
Yusuf Demir is being tipped to leave Barcelona in the January transfer window to cut short his season-long loan move from Rapid Vienna.
Demir progressed through the ranks at the Austrian club before making his debut at the age of 16. In 38 first-team appearances, the teenage prodigy scored nine goals and added four assists, attracting interest from clubs all over Europe. Last summer, however, Barcelona beat the rest of the competition to the punch.
The teenager was promoted from the Barcelona B team to the first team upon joining. The Blaugrana have the option of signing Demir for €10 million, but they want the youngster's loan to end in January.
Demir's last game was a goalless draw against Benfica in the Champions League. The youngster is being pursued by a number of Bundesliga clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and Frankfurt.
Barcelona are out of the Champions League, scoring only two goals and conceding nine goals in six matches.
# 3 Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona have been a shadow of their usual dominating selves this season and one key player's performances which have come under the microscope is Frenke de Jong. Just days after the humiliation against Bayern Munich, there were reports of De Jong being considered to be put up for sale.
With the emergence of young midfielders like Pedri, Nico Gonzalez and Riqui Puig, Barcelona could consider an offer which could provide them with good returns for the Dutchman. The Dutchman is still in his prime and could fetch a hefty transfer fee which could ease Barcelona's financial woes.
De Jong has been linked to a host of clubs including Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Recently, though, manager Xavi waved away reports that 24-year-would would be considered surplus to requirements over the coming week. He said:
"Our goal is for Frenkie to be happy here. We desperately need that type of player."
# 4 Samuel Umititi
Umtiti is another name on the transfer list whose career has been limited by injury. Along with Coutinho, he is on the list of the most under-utilised players. Despite being among the substitutes, Umtiti started his first game against Osasuna on 12 December, his first start since April. Throughout the game, he looked rusty and not at his best.
Umtiti has fallen from grace both at international level with France and at Barcelona. Gerard Pique, Ronald Araujo, Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet are ahead of him in the pecking order. Umtiti could make the move to revive his career elsewhere and the club could make a profit from his sale.
# 5 Sergiño Dest
Culers were ecstatic when Sergino Dest was signed from Ajax in October 2020 for a fee of around €21 million. The USMNT star is thought to be someone who can decipher the club's DNA. He was also an asset for the future because of his youth. His ability to defend however, has so far been a liability that has yet to improve.
Fernando Polo, a Mundo Deportivo journalist, is reporting that the club are ready to put him right back in the transfer market. Barcelona want to recoup as much money as they can. Bayern were reportedly interested in Dest in the summer.
With the addition of Dani Alves, the Blagurana now have Sergi Roberto and Oscar Mingueza at right back. The latter is untested and it will be seen if Xavi keeps him until the summer to prove his worth or sell him in the January transfer window. With his importance to the team rapidly declining by the day, the USMNT star will have to step up.
Barcelona are now in eighth place with 24 points after 16 games, 18 points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who have played one more game
