Barcelona coach Xavi has decided that he will continue at the club next season after initially announcing his departure following the end of this campaign.
The club has commenced squad preparations for the new season with Xavi and MARCA reveals that the manager is not planning to count on any of his loanees.
Barcelona have four players out on loan, at the moment – Clement Lenglet at Aston Villa, Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre at Girona, and Sergino Dest at PSV Eindhoven.
None of the players’ loan deals permit their respective clubs to buy them at the end of the spell and they will be back with the La Liga title challengers for pre-season.
Barcelona players have not impressed in their seasons elsewhere
Barcelona had discarded all four of the players who were loaned out earlier this season from their plans and the situation is unlikely to change heading into the upcoming year.
Clement Lenglet and Sergino Dest, in particular, were anyway being forced out as the Blaugrana looked to recover from a financial slump.
It will be worth seeing if any clubs, including Villa and PSV, are interested in purchasing the duo.
Unai Emery’s side being in contention to permanently transfer in Lenglet cannot be ruled out as the player has made 23 appearances for his side and been a decent secondary option.
Dest’s situation will be complicated, however, as PSV may not be able to afford his wages.
Eric Garcia and Pablo Torre are likely to be unaffordable for Girona as permanent signings, but given that they are 23 and 21, respectively, there promises to be a market for them elsewhere.
Barcelona have to sell before being able to sign
Xavi’s plans would be unforeseen to change with the quadruple as Barcelona could expect themselves to have a busy transfer window in the summer.
The club’s loaned players are a surplus even in the current squad and sanctioning their sales would allow Barca to reduce its wage bill and have no difficulty in registering the newer signings.
It is yet to be known if any players from the current first-team will be asked to leave and earn them a notable transfer fee, but Frenkie de Jong and Ronald Araujo will be both be transfer-listed should they fail to agree upon contract renewals this summer.
