Report: Barcelona Fringe Trio Could Be on the Outs in January As Club Looks to Cut Costs
Barcelona stars Arda Turan, Thomas Vermaelen and Aleix Vidal have all reportedly been informed by the club that they are free to leave in January.
The trio have been on the fringes of the first team squad for some time and have now been deemed surplus to requirements, as Ernesto Valverde and the club hierarchy prepare for the future and look to reduce the wage bill.
Vidal has made seven appearances so far this season for the club, Vermaelen with just one in the Copa del Rey and Turan has yet to feature in a single game so far this campaign.
According to Sport, in what has been described as 'operation exit', all three have been told they have no future at Barcelona and will be put up for transfer as the club looks to reduce it's coasts in January. However, despite Barcelona telling all three clearly that they want them to go, it's also been mentioned that the three players' situations aren't the same.
Arda Turan has struggled to make an impact since his move from Atletico Madrid in 2015. He has featured just 55 times in three seasons at the Camp Nou, scoring 15 times.
With still two and a half years remaining on his contract, Barcelona want to cash in on the player in January. The Turkish star was on sale in the summer and there was an option for him to leave on loan in Turkey, but now it is believed there is only one offer left from China, with the midfielder unlikely to make a move there.
Lars Baron/GettyImages
Vermaelen, in contrast, has had an even more insignificant impact in his time in Spain with injuries being a factor. Since leaving Arsenal in 2014, the 31-year-old has made just 22 appearances for Barcelona, scoring one goal. He was also sent out on-loan last season to Serie A side Roma.
While Barcelona's coaches apparently don't rate Vermaelen, the club will not force the defender out if he doesn't find a club he wants to go to and are willing to loan him out if another club will pay his salary. The former Arsenal man needs game time ahead of this summer's World Cup in Russia.
Meanwhile, after arriving at the club in 2015, Vidal is another player who has struggled for game time, making just 33 appearances.
The 28-year-old did start this season being used more regularly, but his importance has faded and Barcelona now want to sell the Spaniard and re-coup as much as they can of the €18m plus add-ons they spent on him.
