Thank the lord for the riches of the Premier League, right Barcelona?
If Ronald Koeman wants Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia at his disposal ahead of the new La Liga season – Barca cannot register any of the aforementioned quartet until they reduce their crippling wage bill – then cashing in on high-earning benchwarmers like Junior Firpo and Martin Braithwaite feels like the most obvious solution to a massive problem.
Leeds United have already added £13 million to the Catalan coffers, signing seldom-seen left-back Firpo three weeks ago.
And it seems Braithwaite will be joining the former Real Betis flyer in the Premier League.
According to Sport, West Ham have agreed a deal that will see one of Denmark’s Euro 2020 heroes don claret-and-blue next term.
Although Braithwaite is yet to agree personal terms with the London giants – it is understood that a man who earns £85,000-a-week at the Camp Nou is not happy with the package put forward by West Ham – there is belief that a compromise will be reached before long.
Will Martin Braithwaite be a success at West Ham United?
Braithwaite was never a regular in Barcelona’s starting XI and he was never intended to be anything more than an experienced back-up anyway. But that does not mean the one-time Middlesbrough man will not be missed by some sections of the Camp Nou fanbase.
No one could ever question his commitment to the cause, his work-rate, his burning desire to make the most of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
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