Barcelona have taken a step forward in 'operation exit' and have told some players they are not needed and the club want to sell them. Specifically, Aleix Vidal, Arda Turan and Thomas Vermaelen now know their situation and Barcelona are waiting for offers.

Not all the situations are the same, despite Barcelona being very clear. Arda Turan, for instance, has not entered into the squad and was already on sale in the summer but wanted to stay. He has 2 and a half years left on his contract. He could have gone on loan to Turkey in the summer. Now only one bid from China exists but it's unlikely he will go there.

Vermaelen, meanwhile, has shown enthusiasm to play. The coaches don't not rate him, but his physical condition means he's been used few times. The Belgian wants to star at the World Cup and needs games. Barcelona will allow him to leave but will not force him out if he doesn't find an interesting sporting project. The club would loan him out if another side is willing to pay his salary.

Vidal is the situation that has changed most recently. Valverde started off using him and then changed him to a right winger rather than right back. He has lost importance and Barcelona think now is the moment to lose him. He is the player who would raise the most money too and Barcelona hope to sell him to get back a lot of what they bought him for - 18m euros plus four more in variables. They want around 10 back, and the club would save on his salary for the rest of the season and two more years. For now that's it, but they might look to sell Rafinha in the summer too. Barcelona are working on reducing their wage expenditure.