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Barcelona are still to register any new players before this weekend\u2019s La Liga opener with Rayo Vallecano.<\/p>\n
Barca have been wrestling with severe financial issues, which need to be addressed to comply with La Liga\u2019s strict financial regulations.<\/p>\n
In effect that has meant the Catalan giants have sold off huge amounts of their future income in order to comply and register new players.<\/p>\n
That includes striker Robert Lewandowski and forward Raphinha.<\/p>\n
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As well as Poland international Lewandowski from Bayern Munich and Brazilian Raphinha from Leeds, the club have also signed defenders Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen and midfielder Franck Kessie.<\/p>\n
However, Barcelona are still to satisfy La Liga and are now working on activating what is being referred to as a\u00a0fourth \u2018financial lever\u2019, a significant stake in their Barca Studios commercial arm, in order to comply.<\/p>\n
In addition, long-serving defender Gerard Pique has taken a pay cut.<\/p>\n
La Liga believe these changes will allow Barcelona to start registering new players, although there is a feeling at the league this may be done on an individual basis rather than all at once.<\/p>\n
Barcelona\u2019s financial strife is one of the reasons for the uncertainty over the future of Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong.<\/p>\n
Manchester United are keen to sign De Jong, with Chelsea also expressing an interest.<\/p>\n
READ ALSO<\/strong><\/p>\n However, De Jong is owed millions in deferred payments from a restructuring of his Barcelona contract, which has come into force this season.<\/p>\n Barcelona president\u00a0Joan Laporta insists\u00a0the club want to the Netherlands international to stay.<\/p>\n \u201cFrenkie de Jong is a Barcelona player of great quality and we want him to stay,\u201d Laporta told TV3.<\/p>\n \u201cWith him and his team-mates, we have a very powerful midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has offers, but we want him to stay and he wants to stay too.\u201d<\/p>\n Barcelona are also trying to move on a number of players, including defender Samuel Umtiti and forward Martin Braithwaite, who was booed before Sunday\u2019s pre-season game against Pumas at the Nou Camp.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have understood that the best thing is to go play for another team,\u201d said Laporta.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir contracts have always been respected, but the time has come when they have to take a step forward. This week they have to fix both of them.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n