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Barcelona plan to sell left-back to recoup funds for January spending

Spanish giants Barcelona are planning to part ways with left-back Junior Firpo as they look to recoup funds to spend on new players during the January transfer window, Sport claims.

Firpo was fancied to head through the exit door during the summer transfer window, but ultimately a deal did not materialise and he had to stay put with the Catalan giants.

He has since experienced a tough time under manager Ronald Koeman and has been afforded only 29 minutes of first-team football in the Champions League this season.

Firpo was the immediate back-up option for Alba during the previous campaign, but he has lost his spot to summer signing Sergino Dest, who is capable of playing in both full-back positions.

Hence, it appears only a matter of time before he could head for the exit door and Sport claims that the Nerazzurri are keen on landing him after a failed attempt during the summer.

The Blaugrana are on the hunt for a new centre-back and wide player and they have set their sights on landing Eric Garcia and Memphis Depay from Manchester City and Lyon respectively.

Both players have their contracts expiring at the end of the campaign, but the Blaugrana are keen on pushing through cut-price deals in January rather than negotiating pre-contracts for next season.

Depay came on the cusp of joining the club prior to the summer transfer deadline, but the deal fell through as the hierarchy could not reach a financial agreement with Les Gones.

Les Gones president Jean-Michel Aulas has personally acknowledged that Depay could push for a move to Camp Nou in January and it remains to be seen whether the club can eventually land his services.

The potential arrival of Depay could coincide with the departure of Martin Braithwaite, who arrived as an emergency signing from Leganes during the backend of last season.

The ex-Middlesbrough man has managed just one goal from 16 appearances for the Blaugrana and he has been out-of-favour under Koeman. He has managed just five substitute appearances totalling 38 minutes.

According to La Vanguardia, the 29-year-old has two months to convince Koeman with his performances or else he could head for an exit when the transfer window reopens.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com

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