- Barca wants to make sure there is enough money in the coffers to register players
- Gündogan is set to return to City on a free transfer with a one-year contract
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Barcelona are reportedly considering bringing a second former Premier League star onto the market after Ilkay Gundogan returned to Manchester City just one season after moving to Catalonia.
The former captain reportedly has a deal to return to the Etihad, where he spent seven years and won five Premier League titles as well as the club’s historic treble in 2023.
Gündogan has struggled to find his feet following his move to Spain after signing a two-year contract at the start of the 2023–24 season.
Man City are now close to reclaiming their man for free after negotiating a one-year deal with the Catalan club.
But the German star could soon be followed by another Premier League transfer as Barcelona desperately try to reduce their wage bill in preparation for signing new players.
Barcelona are said to want to sell another ex-Premier League player this summer
Head coach Hansi Flick will probably prefer other players in the star position this season
According to the Spanish newspaper AS, a sale of former Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen is on the table.
The Danish international moved to Camp Nou against the backdrop of Chelsea’s transfer freeze in 2022. Due to sanctions against then-owner Roman Abramovich, the club was no longer able to offer the players new contracts while he was looking for a new owner.
The 28-year-old rose through the Chelsea academy after joining from his boyhood club Bröndby in 2012 and made his breakthrough into the first team in 2017 after a lengthy loan spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Christensen then joined the Blaugrana on a free transfer after his contract expired in the summer of that year and has made 75 appearances since his first appearance at the Camp Nou.
However, new head coach Hansi Flick is apparently not particularly convinced by the player and decided not to let him start in the opening game of the season against Valencia because he was “not in good shape”.
Andreas Christensen joined Barcelona two years ago after leaving Stamford Bridge on a free transfer
The Danish international joined Chelsea’s academy in 2012 (pictured front right in 2021)
Barcelona still have to sign some key players, including Dani Olmo, who was signed in August
FC Barcelona’s financial woes would be boosted by the sale of a player the club signed for free, and sporting director Deco is apparently keen to prioritise the signing of a number of key players.
Breakthrough summer signing Dani Olmo is still unregistered and Mail Sport reported in June that nine of the club’s current players were not registered ahead of next season, including rising Euro 2024 star Lamine Yamal.
The club’s precarious financial situation is likely to continue to dictate its moves in the market as the transfer window draws to a close and Barcelona considers bringing back Joao Cancelo, who was loaned out last season.
The Manchester City defender is reportedly interested in returning to Catalonia, but is unwilling to lower his horrendous salary demands.
The club is also reportedly concerned about the player’s attitude in the dressing room, as Cancelo did not get on with either the big boys or the younger members of the squad.
