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BARCELONA

Umtiti and Dest refuse to leave Barça in the January window

Barça hope that Umtiti and Dest along with De Jong and Coutinho will move on in next month's transfer window but neither the French defender or the Dutchman want to leave.

Update:
Umtiti and Dest refuse to leave Barça in the January window
ANDER GILLENEAAFP

Barça are not going to have an easy time trying to trim their squad during next month's transfer window. According to Sport, Samuel Umtiti has no intention of leaving Barça, and even less so after his performance against Osasuna at El Sadar. The French defender could renegotiate his contract personally with Joan Laporta. He is one of the highest paid members of the first team squad. His contract renewal, which was approved by Josep Maria Bartomeu, has turned out to be one of the biggest burdens in recent years at the club.

Umtiti is not the only one who is refusing to budge at Camp Nou - Mundo Deportivo reports that Sergiño Dest is also digging his heels in. It's surprising considering the limited playing time he has been given at Barça. Xavi has decided he has no need for the Dutch player who has an Americal passport. However Dest still thinks he can triumph at Barça and doesn't want to move on next month.

Coutinho's days at Camp Nou numbered

The other two players who have been linked with an exit in the January window are Coutinho and Luuk de Jong. The Brazilian plans to hold a meeting with the club over Christmas, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Dutch forward could go out on loan. The latest rumour has him as a part of an operation with Alexis Sánchez, but that would have be approved first by Sevilla, who have the final word on the former PSV Eindhoven striker. If both Coutinho and De Jong leave, Barça would make a considerable saving on their salaries - it would also give them leeway to make more signings themselves, but Mateu Alemany has a lot of work to do before that happens.