The 3 Most Expendable Players for FC Barcelona during the Summer Transfer Window

As the Summer transfer window rolls on, Barcelona eye the ambitious signings of Nico Williams and Dani Olmo. The Spanish giants must exhaust all options in attempt to balance its books while simultaneously strengthening the active squad — even if it means traversing a treacherous path to do it. 

Barcelona’s long list of financial constraints demand the consideration of key player sales, even if reluctantly. Among the current roster, three players stand out as the most expendable: Ilkay Gundogan, Raphinha, and Frenkie de Jong.

While the club maintains that the chance of any key departure is close to zero, the potential sale of a quality player could pave a feasible roadmap for Barca to complete their pair of dream signings.

1. Ilkay Gundogan: The Seasoned Vet of the first team 

Ilkay Gundogan, one of the seasoned veterans in Barcelona’s first team, finds himself at the top of this expendability list. Gundogan’s intelligence, technical skills, and leadership have been invaluable to Barca’s build-up play. His awareness and technicality in the final third are have been the key in loads of goals, and his leadership has surely rubbed off on the younger players. However, the rapid development of young midfield talents like Gavi and Pedri render Gundogan’s future at the club increasingly uncertain.

19-year-old Gavi and 20-year-old Pedri displayed immense potential and shown maturity beyond their years. Though the pair of budding Spanish talents are far from finished products, they continue to progress at an alarming rate and are likely to command more playing time during the 2024/25 campaign.

Selling Gundogan, despite his contributions, would be a strategic move for Barca. His transfer would not only relieve the Blaugrana of some burdensome wages, but Gundo’s transfer would generate a decent transfer fee, with a few Saudi clubs already showing some interest in the soon-to-be 34-year-old.

Ilkay Gundogan is only two seasons removed from a stellar campaign at Manchester, where he played an integral role in securing the club’s first-ever treble — securing the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League trophy to top off a record-breaking season. Sure, Gundo might be at the tail-end of his prime, but as he reminded the world during this past European Cup. he’s still a difference-maker in any premier club.

While it’s never easy to part with a player of Gundogan’s caliber and experience, Barca are building towards a better tomorrow and his sale might go a long way towards achieving that goal.

2. Raphinha: The Impact of Potential New Signings

Raphinha’s situation at Barcelona is directly influenced by the club’s pursuit of Nico Williams, whether the club would like to admit it or not. Lamine Yamal’s emergence last year saw Raphinha’s role on the right wing take a sizeable hit, and by the end of the year his inclusion in the starting eleven was almost surprising. 

The addition of the dynamic Williams on the left wing alongside the promising Yamal on the right would immediately form one of the scariest wing-tandems in Europe. Concurrently, the Brazilian’s role would be significantly diminished.

Raphinha has shown flashes of brilliance both in a national and club setting, and he’s been a critical asset on the wings. However, his consistency has been a point of contention, and the competition for a starting position amidst Barcelona’s forward line is fierce. The expectation amid Raphinha’s signing from Leeds United was that he’d be able to fill the role of a traditional Brazilian winger; charging at fullbacks and utilizing a series of skills and feints to create the separation for a curious and shot on target, or a delightful service into the box. Through two seasons in Camp Nou, he just hasn’t quite lived up to those aspirations.

A sale of Raphinha would likely command around €60-€70M, positioning the club to chase after further reinforcements in addition to one of their primary targets. Several Premier League clubs including Tottenham and Liverpool have shown interest in the Brazilian winger. While Barcelona would undoubtedly prefer to retain depth and versatility in their attacking positions, financial realities may force their hand. Besides, beggars can’t be choosers, as the timeless adage goes.

3. Frenkie de Jong: The Unlikely but Valuable Asset

Frenkie de Jong is the most indispensable of the three players discussed, making his potential sale the least likely. The Dutch midfielder is regarded as a difference-maker by new head coach Hansi Flick, and Barcelona’s mutual interest in a contract renewal reflect that sentiment.

Frenkie’s rare ability to control the tempo of the game make him an invaluable asset in any attack, not to mention that he’s one of the club’s only holding midfield options, showing off his defensive determination when called to action. Having been at Barca for about four years, De Jong has long been viewed as a key piece of the puzzle in the eyes of the board and Cules alike. Injuries have derailed his growth at the club, though recent reports shine some optimism on his current status.

De Jong, 27, is yet to enjoy his best years as a footballer, but in a scenario where Barcelona is forced to make tough financial decisions his sale could provide the significant financial flexibility needed to pursue both Williams and Olmo. Despite his murky injury history, De Jong’s market value is exceptionally high, and his departure would generate substantial funds for Barca’s disposal.

The Dutchman’s departure from Barcelona’s midfield would leave the club with some holes to fill, but the presence of Gavi, Pedri, and potential low-budget signings like N’Golo Kante or Mikel Merino could help mitigate the loss. Blaugrana’s deep-rooted affinity with de Jong and his unique play style suggests that any move to sell the player would be a last resort.