Ronald Koeman looks increasingly like being given the job of taking Barcelona into the new season but only after accepting a pay cut.
Diario Sport reported Tuesday that Koeman could put pen to paper on a new contract that would combine an extra year added to his existing deal (due to finish in 2022) and with a reduction in his basic pay – linked to the club’s effort to reduce its crippling wage bill.
The pay cut will be compensated by a spike in what he will earn in bonuses if he delivers trophies next season.
Between Koeman’s future being called into grave doubt at the end of last season and the expected confirmation of him continuing this week, Barca have recruited Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia, Emerson is on his way back from a loan spell at Betis, and Georginio Wijnaldum could also be confirmed as arriving on a free with Memphis Depay following him pending the sale of players.
Three of those signings were requested by Koeman at different points of last season. He has made no secret of his desire to bring in Dutch internationals Depay and Wijnaldum on free transfers. He also asked for Eric Garcia to arrive in the January window.
There has been less enthusiasm for the arrival of Aguero and right-back Emerson because he favours Sergino Dest and Memphis but the Argentine is being sold to him as a strategic recruitment to appease Lionel Messi who now looks set to stay at the club. And Emerson’s season at Betis under Manuel Pellegrini has left Barcelona believing he will strengthen the right-back position.
Of Koeman’s future, Laporta said Tuesday: ‘Talks have gone well. I think this period of reflection has been good. Things will improve with Koeman. None of us want what happened last season to happen again this season. I feel very comfortable talking with him and I hope he feels the same way. He is more out than in.’
In terms of the squad, judging how effective the ‘ins’ at Barcelona have been, is impossible to do while the ‘outs’ remain up for debate.
Barcelona are on the brink of confirming Koeman and have raided the free-transfer bargain bin. But it is sales that will dictate how the rest of the summer goes and what sort of squad they take into the new campaign.
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