Barcelona are reportedly preparing to dump veteran left-back Jordi Alba to free up the finances of his salary bill. The Blaugrana have been plagued by financial difficulties and are looking to part ways with the Spaniard to balance the books at the Camp Nou.
According to El Nacional, the president of Barça, Joan Laporta, is studying the departure of Alba, 33. He has lived a season backwards, with 18 participations in competitions and 13 in Xavi’s starting eleven, giving five assists.
He has been replaced by 19-year-old Alejandro Balde in the Barcelona defence, and summer signing Marcos Alonso also claims to be a regular at left-back. Alba’s march is considered beneficial for the economy of the Catalan giants.
Despite sharing minutes with Marcos Alonso and Alejandro Balde, Jordi Alba already has 5 assists this season. https://t.co/tXwTlfRw3T
However, the Spanish side does not want to leave the club. He has been a Barcelona senior team player for almost 11 years since he arrived from Valencia in 2012. His contract does not expire until 2024. But Laporta and sports director Mateu Alemany know that the wage bill must be reduced. Alba is currently one of the top earners, earning £186,000 (207,000 euros) a week, according to Salary Sport. Barca will be keen to secure his departure and earn a transfer fee rather than the player ending his contract and leaving for free.
Barcelona wants to sign Villarreal defender Juan Foyth
Although Barcelona are trying to balance the books at the Camp Nou, they are still looking for acquisitions. They point to a right-back signing and show interest in Villarreal’s Foyth.
Transfers reports that Barca are looking to snap up the 25-year-old Foyth in the summer transfer window. He has made 12 appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists. He has helped the Yellow Submarine keep six clean sheets.
The Blaugrana have no natural right-back, with Sergi Roberto and Jules Kounde acting as makeshift right-backs throughout the campaign. Héctor Bellerín left the Camp Nou in January and joined Sporting CP for 1 million euros. The Spaniard only joined Xavi’s team last summer from Arsenal on a free transfer.
Foyth has a rumored transfer value of €25m. He was part of the Argentina team that lifted the FIFA World Cup in Qatar last year. The right-back made a substitute appearance in the team’s semi-final win over Croatia. Xavi will have the chance to see Foyth up close when Barcelona head to El Madrigal to take on Villarreal on Sunday (February 12).