Barcelona FAIL in forcing Jordi Alba out of the club in move to free up salary space for Marcos Alonso… who could leave Chelsea as part of deal for striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- Barcelona hoped to let Jordi Alba leave the club with Inter Milan keen on a loan
- The Spanish full-back though has no interest in leaving the Nou Camp
- Allowing Alba to leave would have freed up salary space to sign Marcos Alonso
- Alonso could leave as part of Chelsea’s pursuit for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Barcelona have failed in their attempt to push Jordi Alba out of the club on deadline day.
His departure would have helped push through the sale of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea because it would have freed-up salary for Barcelona to register Marcos Alonso.
Chelsea’s offer to Barcelona for Aubameyang is for £6.4million (€7.5m) plus Alonso.
Jordi Alba wants to stay at Barcelona despite the club pushing to move him on this summer
Barcelona had hoped he would go to help free-up salary space for Chelsea’s Marcos Alonso
Barca want Alonso and have agreed personal terms with him but are not sure they can register Alonso and sign the right-back they are prioritizing on deadline day. Alba’s departure would have solved that problem.
Inter were interested in signing Alba on loan but the player has refused to entertain the idea of moving to the club this window.
This means Alba will stay and if Alonso arrives, Barcelona will have three left-backs, including Alejandro Balde who has started the last two games.
Barcelona will hold out for one last improved bid for Aubameyang (around £10.4m plus Alonso) but there situation is such that Chelsea expect them to crumble and accept less.
Alonso could leave Chelsea as part of their push to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Barcelona will then be back at the limits of their LaLiga permitted squad-spend and that is likely to mean Xavi has to settle for free agent Hector Bellerin as the right-back option, instead of his preference, the more expensive Thomas Meunier.
Valencia could sign their former player Juan Mata. The 34-year-old left the club in 2011 and is a free-agent.
Valencia are looking for reinforcements after Spain international Carlos Soler left for Paris Saint Germain.
Former Manchester United midfielder Mata is open to rejoining his old club and the deal could be done after deadline day because he’s not under contract anywhere. Valencia also want to take former Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba on loan.
Xavi could be left with three left backs if Alonso joins Alba at the Nou Camp before the window shuts
Former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata could be set for a return to Valencia
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