{"id":1212401,"date":"2021-07-15T15:30:19","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T14:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1212401"},"modified":"2021-07-15T14:42:20","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T13:42:20","slug":"barcelona-transfer-news-saul-griezmann-swap-deal","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/barcelona-transfer-news-saul-griezmann-swap-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Saul to Barcelona? The big winners and losers if Atletico Madrid agree Griezmann swap deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite their financial woes, Barcelona are preparing a massive transfer deal with Atl\u00e9tico Madrid.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The deal is one of those rare sightings in the footballing world: a player swap! So often mooted, but so rarely coming to pass. This time, however, the rumours say it will happen. The deal will supposedly see Barcelona sending Antoine Griezmann back to the Vicente Calderon while Atletico will in turn send Sa\u00fal to the Camp Nou to play for Barcelona.<\/p>\n

After initially being linked with Liverpool, Saul is now priced at 1\/6<\/a> to join Barcelona with Sky Bet, with the Reds back on 5\/1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who would be the winners and losers if such a move came to pass? We’ve had a look and come up with a list!<\/p>\n

Winner: Joan Laporta<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Thanks to the fiscal negligence of Josep Bartomeu’s now-deposed presidential term, Barcelona are a financial disaster right now. One of the most pressing issues is that they are currently exceeding La Liga’s salary cap; and if they want to register new signings like Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia, they will have to reduce the wage bill significantly.<\/p>\n

Well, new president Joan Laporta seems to have found two massive ways to do just that. The first is to renegotiate Lionel Messi’s contract, allegedly bringing the best player on the planet’s salary down by 50%.<\/p>\n

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OFFICIAL: Joan Laporta has been elected as Barcelona president for the second time, spending seven years at the helm between 2003 and 2010. pic.twitter.com\/yyix8FvWRP<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 7, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n