Barcelona want Philippe Coutinho but need to sell up to FIVE players in order to make room for Liverpool star in January
Barca's current wage bill takes up a whopping 84 per cent of their overall budget and needs to be drastically cut
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BARCELONA need to sell up to FIVE players in order to make room for Philippe Coutinho, reports claim.
claims Barca cannot afford to sign the Liverpool star until they cut back on their massive wage bill.
The Spanish giants have just announced record revenue for last season, but their wage bill takes up a whopping 84 per cent of the overall budget.
Barca are believed to have a £105million bid ready to go for Coutinho when the January window opens.
But they cannot currently offer the Brazilian any wages – even if Liverpool let him for nothing.
Mundo Deportivo columnist Miguel Rico wrote: “If Barcelona don’t bring the wage bill down from the 84 per cent mark, they cannot sign Coutinho, even if Liverpool let him leave for free.”
The report adds that Barca are looking to offload five first-teamers this winter, starting with midfielder Arda Turan.
The Turkey international is wanted by Galatasaray and teams in China, but refused to leave last summer when offers flooded in for his signature.
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Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen and wing-back Aleix Vidal still have time remaining on their contracts and are reluctant to quit the Nou Camp.
While playmaker Andre Gomes and striker Paco Alcacer are looking to remain in Spain after they both left Valencia for Barcelona in 2016.
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