Suárez and Alba are two delicate cases Barça must manage this summer

Ronald Koeman must get to work with organising his squad before preseason training begins on the 30th August. The wage budget at the club is unsustainable but the message is that a change is related to sporting matters and not due to the financial side. Perhaps an indication that those on higher wages haven't produced the performances required on the pitch.

What's clear is that the situation is unsustainable both on a sporting and financial level. Income is set to fall again next season due to the coronavirus pandemic and stadiums being empty, at least for a large part of the campaign. Due to the failure to move on players who were over their peak, despite having significant name value, Koeman must now be tasked with overhauling the entire squad. He wants to speak with each individual player to explain his plans for them.

TWO PROBLEMATIC CASES

This situation isn't new for Koeman as he faced a similar start at Valencia in 2011. He moved away from using dressing room leaders Albelda, Cañizares and Angulo in order to leave his own stamp on the team. Arturo Vidal has already spoken to Koeman according to Chile's 'La Cuarta'. As we all know, the new coach immediately met with Lionel Messi to see where he stands at the moment. Two heavyweights of the dressing room, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez, are on wages that the club can no longer afford to pay. Both are available for transfer this summer.

AJAX QUIERE AL CHARRÚA

Suarez hasn't spoken to Koeman yet, at least he hadn't up until yesterday, but he will. Aside from what the new coach says, Luis must make a decision on his own future. The striker knows Barça don't want him for next season and they feel he should look for a fresh challenge after a successful spell at the club.

One of the teams who are interested in Suarez is his former club Ajax. The offer is on the table for both Barça and Luis but it doesn't appear to convince him. The Uruguayan international would prefer to see out his final year at Barça and explore the free agent market next summer.

It's a delicate matter because Barça want Lautaro Martinez to be their new striker but, if Suarez stays, it will be impossible to sign the Argentinian. And if a move doesn't happen for Lautaro this season, it probably never will. The club cannot afford to add to their already expensive wage bill.

JORDI ALBA IS A DIFFERENT MATTER

Although like Suarez, Alba has enjoyed a fantastic stint at Barça, he will also be told he isn't needed for next season. The 31-year-old is under contract unti 2024 and there's much more interest in him from both home (Atletico) and aboard (Inter). Barça feel now is the time he moved on for a new challenge and didn't overstay his welcome at the Camp Nou.

The club want to sign a left-back this summer and unlike in previous seasons, this time it will be a new starting left-back. However, in contrast to Suarez, Barça aren't opposed to Alba staying in order to offer competition to the new signing. If Alba stayed then Junior Firpo would be the one to leave.