Martin Braithwaite among four Barcelona players fighting for futures and could be flogged in January transfer window
MARTIN BRAITHWAITE is among four Barcelona players fighting for their futures at the club, according to reports.
And they are all at risk of being flogged in January as the club look to make further cost-cutting measures.
According to Marca, Braithwaite, Junior Firpo, Carles Alena and Riqui Puig must all impress in the coming weeks with eight fixtures before the end of the year.
Or they will find themselves in the shop window when the market reopens on January 1.
Barcelona are in desperate need to slash costs amid spiralling debts as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
That saw the annual wage bill cut by 43 per cent to £343million for the 2020-21 season.
Lionel Messi, the rest of the players and manager Ronald Koeman did agree a pay cut last week.
Braithwaite, 29, arrived in an emergency £15m deal in February due to an injury crisis but is not seen as a long-term solution.
It took him 14 appearances for club and country to get his first goals of the season, scoring twice in the 4-0 win over Dynamo Kiev last week before hitting his first LaLiga strike of the campaign against Osasuna on Sunday.
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Firpo, 24, was signed from Real Betis a year ago but has struggled to dislodge Jordi Alba in the side.
Big things are expected from La Masia graduates Alena, 22, and Puig, 21.
But they have struggled to get their chances this season with Barcelona enduring a poor start to life under Koeman.
That led to reports linking Puig – who has an £88m release clause – with a January switch to Leeds on loan.