4 Barcelona players who could be out of the team this summer

Surviving at a team as competitive as FC Barcelona can be a tough task, especially if you are young to the European stage, or a loanee at the Catalan club. It requires a different level of physical and mental determination to survive at the top clubs or teams in any sport and skill and talent alone won't ensure a top spot.

The current situation at FC Barcelona is well, weird. The team is performing well on the pitch and the board is on a transfer spree for a few years running, bringing a lot of talented players into the squad. The youth academy, which dried up for a few years recently, has again been producing top talents. Garcia Piminenta's Barcelona B is full of talented La Masia graduates, and were the winners of last year's UEFA Youth League. This situation sounds like perfect for fans of the club, but for players earning a living while fighting for a spot in the first team, it means cut-throat competition.

Frankie De Jong would be joining Barcelona in the summer. De Ligt could also join him.

With the imminent arrival of more players in the summer and the board pursuing still more players elsewhere, it is clear that a few names would be missing on the Barça team sheet next season. Let's look at the four players who are very likely to be out of Barcelona over the summer;

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#4 Jeison Murillo

Murillo on the BarÃ§a bench — Murillo on the Barça bench

It is hard to remember the last time Jeison Murillo put a foot wrong while playing in a Barcelona shirt, partly because of the little game time the defender has had at the Catalan side since coming to the Nou Camp at loan from Valencia.

Murillo's loan move raised a few eyebrows because Barcelona signed a defender who wasn't even starting for Valencia, a club that is certainly a few rungs beneath the Catalans in the league table. However, the 26-year-old has proven his footballing acumen in the limited chances he has been given by manager Ernesto Valverde.

In a highly competitive Barcelona defence, where a player like Samuel Umtiti is reportedly fighting for his future, Murillo's future at the Nou Camp is highly uncertain. The Colombian is currently on a loan-deal until the end of the season, and it is highly unlikely that Barcelona will make the move to purchase the centre back provided the defensive cover they already have, and the attempts to sign Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax.

#3 Malcom

With every passing week, it seems clearer that club president Josep Bartomeu's decision to hijack Malcom's move to AS Roma at the last miunute, had less to do with sporting reasons than the Barcelona administration claimed. Some fans have even stated that Barcelona's hijack was to seek 'revenge' on Roma, who knocked the Catalans out of the Champions League last season.

But no matter what the reason behind Malcom's transfer may be, it is undeniable that the Brazilian is one of the most talented youngsters in European football at the moment, but he just doesn't have a place in Ernesto Valverde's plans. Even when Ousmane Dembele, a player Malcom should be directly substituting, has been out due to injury, the Brazilian hasn't been on the pitch.

Rumours of Malcom leaving Barcelona started only months after the Brazilian landed in Barcelona. The Brazilian has had very little playing time this season so far and the future doesn't look good with rumours of Barcelona going for another forward in the upcoming summer window. Malcom's transfer is highly likely in the summer.

#2: Kevin-Prince Boateng

FC Barcelona v Real Valladolid CF - La Liga

Perhaps one of the most controversial moves Barcelona has made in the transfer window in recent seasons, Kevin Prince Boateng, who arrived as a back up for Luis Suarez hasn't provided any value to the squad. One of the major reason's behind Barcelona going for the forward was due to Suarez's knee problem and Boateng's experience, but the German-Ghanian has had injury troubles of his own and it is hard to remember the last time he featured in a Barcelona jersey.

On loan until the end of the season, KP Boateng is more than likely to not continue as the chances of Barcelona triggering the €8 million purchase clause are virtually zero.

Barcelona's interests in other forwards like Luka Jovic and renewed speculation regarding Antoine Griezmann make Boateng's future more uncertain than it already is. What has to be seen is how KP Boateng delivers in the few months he is at the Camp Nou for. So far, the forward hasn't delivered anything of great significance.

#1 Philippe Coutinho

Philippe Coutinho was supposed to be the next big thing for Barcelona but in reality, the Brazilian hasn't made a mark of any significance in the team. One of the biggest names in world football when he signed for the Catalan club, Coutinho's situation at Barcelona has been more like that of a young player breaking through the academy. The Brazilian has been second choice to Ousmane Dembele since the start of the season, and has lost the momentum he had at the end of last season due to the Frenchman's form.

There has been lot of speculation regarding Coutinho's future, and although reports suggest that most Barcelona players still believe largely in the talents of the Brazilian, the board is open to listening for offers. Coutinho has suitors from all over Europe, most notably from the Premier League.

There are chances that Barcelona might let go of Coutinho to make way for other players, both financially and sporting-wise, and reduce their ever-increasing wage bill.

Edited by Tobi Amoo