Barcelona may need to offload more players at the start of 2025 to balance a delicate financial situation at the club.
The Catalan giants ended 2024 with just one league win in their last seven games as Atletico Madrid overtook them to secure top spot at the start of January.
Hansi Flick will utilise the mid-season break to assess his options, but finances will dictate his ability to bring in reinforcements in January, as the club look to maintain stability.
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Despite some progress, following years of fiscal issues, the club are still balancing salary payments and searching for new sponsorship and investments.
Spain international Dani Olmo signed from RB Leipzig in the summer, but his salary and La Liga registration was based on Barcelona using a portion Andreas Christensen’s salary due to a long-term injury for the Dane.
Olmo and others are not registered for 2025, with Barcelona against the clock to secure a fresh agreement.
Amongst those who could be sold to raise the £60m ($75m) needed to remain operational at this level is defender Eric Garcia.
Garcia rejected a summer return to Girona – after impressing on loan their in 2023/24 season – with Michel Sanchez’s side securing a first-ever UEFA Champions League qualification spot.
The former Manchester City defender wanted to prove himself back at Barcelona, but Flick has not relied on him, and a return to the Premier League could now be an option.
Eric Garcia’s Barcelona contract, transfer value
As per Catalan outlet Diario Sport, Newcastle United have reached out to Barcelona over possible January interest in the 23-year-old.
The return to fitness of Christensen and Ronald Araujo will push Garcia further down the pecking order despite his preference to stay.
Garcia is rumoured to be keen on one final chance at Barcelona, and he would angle for a summer move, but Barcelona’s need for money could trump that.
With Barcelona unlikely to extend his contract beyond it expiry in 2026, the coming months represent their best chance to avoid a free transfer exit, with his current value set at around £20m ($25m).
