Barcelona need to reduce their wage bill and know they face a challenge convincing clubs to pay a fee for Everton-linked Thomas Vermaelen.
It’s common knowledge that Barcelona must reduce their crippling wage bill and fast if they are to bring in expensive reinforcements in the New Year.
The Mail report that Barca will go all out to land Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool in January but, with a nine-figure transfer fee likely to be required, the Catalan giants need to find some wriggle room in their finances.
And they could do just this by letting a number of first-team players leave. Alongside Arda Turan, Andre Gomes and co, it is understood that Thomas Vermaelen is on borrowed time at the Camp Nou and could be one of the first out the door.
Which may be very good news for Everton.
“I didn’t have a choice but to stay. Clubs tried until the very last day, like Everton, but it was impossible. I wasn’t even able to negotiate,” Vermaelen, who has played three games for Belgium this season but none in the league for Barca, told DH on Tuesday, expressing his frustration at being denied a move to Goodison Park over the summer.
But after failing to do a deal in August, could The Toffees benefit from waiting around a little longer? Barcelona’s desperation to get Vermaelen off the wage bill could even encourage them to let the defender leave for free.
With Vermaelen’s injury record, Barca know all too well it would not be easy trying to convince a club to part with a transfer fee for a 32-year-old centre-back who has started just 18 league games for Barcelona, Roma and Arsenal in the last four-and-a-half seasons.
If Barca want to get the Belgian out the door as quickly as possible, they would be better served just ripping up his contract. Which could allow Everton to swoop.
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