Friday’s catastrophic Champions League exit has thrown Barcelona under all manner of scrutiny with the average age of their squad a particular concern which the club now hope to eradicate.
Barcelona have reportedly put their entire squad up for sale apart from just four players who have dodged the axe.
Recovery from the 8-2 hammering at the hands of Bayern Munich has already begun for the Spanish club, after the defeat supported suggestions many of the squad are past their peak.
Defender Gerard Pique said after the defeat: “This club needs changes, and I don’t mean the manager, or any specific players. I don’t want to single anyone out. It needs changes.
“This is the bottom. We have hit rock bottom.”
Pique even offered to walk away from the club himself if that was felt necessary, and he is one of the players on the chopping block according to a report from Sport.
The Spanish publication claims that Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu is planning a mass clearout at the Nou Camp this summer.
Only four players will be kept by the club with the rest all available for transfer.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Clement Lenglet, Frenkie de Jong and Lionel Messi have all been pardoned.
Barca were already looking to attract bids for a number of first-team stars anyway, including the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Ivan Rakitic and Arturo Vidal.
But they are now prepared to let some of their star men go as they bid to cut down the average age of their squad.
As a result, Barca are open to offers for Pique, Jordi Alba Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, though are aware they would have to accept reduced fees given each player is over the age of 30.
The board have also lost patience with big-money signings Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, and are happy for them to move on for the right price.
Several of the club’s promising youth players will also be retained in addition to the four senior stars mentioned.
Ansu Fati, Riqui Puig, Pedro and Francisco Trincao are all expected to have bright futures and Barcelona will now step up their bid to bring them up to speed at senior level.
–
Source: Mirror
