Barcelona’s summer fire sale looks set to continue, with the club trying to reduce its wage bill. Antoine Griezmann is among the players the club would like to sell, reports claiming that a swap with Paulo Dybala could be on the cards.
According to L’Equipe, Barcelona are set to approach Juventus with a swap deal offer, involving Antoine Griezmann and Paulo Dybala. The Frenchman is thought to be surplus to requirements at Camp Nou, with the club focusing on extending Lionel Messi’s contact instead.
Reports last week claimed that Barcelona and Atletico Madrid were close to agreeing on a similar swap deal involving Griezmann and Saul Niguez. However, updates on that potential swap have stalled since. Nonetheless, Atletico president Enrique Cerezo refused to end speculation in a recent interaction, claiming that anything is possible instead.
“I do not know how the negotiations are, not even if there are any, but there is time left for you to know what is going to happen. In the world of football, everything is possible but in Griezmann’s case I have no idea, nor have I asked,”
he said.
Martin Braithwaite is another player who could be on his way out of Barcelona this summer. The Spanish giants signed the forward under controversial circumstances in 2020, when they were allowed to poach him from Leganes after the transfer window shut, thanks to LaLiga’s emergency signings rule. However, with Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay coming in, the Dane is likely to be the one to make way.
The Daily Mail reports that the Danish international could sign for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Wolves are on the lookout for another striker due to Raul Jimenez’s serious injury. The Mexican has only just returned to action after suffering damage to his head in a league game against Arsenal in November 2020.
Braithwaite’s departure could help Barcelona further reduce their bill and fall under the strict regulations of LaLiga’s salary cap. The Catalans have already sold Junior Firpo (Leeds) and Konrad De La Fuente (Marseille) this summer while loaning out Francisco Trincao to Wolves.
