Report: Spurs-linked striker asks for pay rise at current club despite financial troubles

Rumoured Tottenham target Martin Braithwaite has reportedly asked Barcelona for a pay rise despite the club’s crippling financial status, according to Mundo Deportivo.

On Monday (August 16), Barcelona president Joan Laporta announced the club’s debt currently stands at over £1.1 billion, with the Catalan giant’s wage bill exceeding 103% of its total income.

Barcelona had to emotionally part ways with club legend Lionel Messi, after La Liga blocked the club’s request to extend his contract, which would have pushed the wage bill up to 110%.

According to Spanish publication Sport, Spurs have registered an interest in Braithwaite, who has reportedly been put up for sale in a bid to take his wages off the books.

Mundo Deportivo, though, claim Braithwaite has asked for a new and improved contract at the Camp Nou, despite the club still being in evident financial difficulty.

With Messi’s exit, a regular spot has opened for the 30-year-old in the Barcelona line-up, and Mundo Deportivo claim he is open to staying at the club, but only if he receives a fresh contract offer.

The Denmark international joined Barcelona for €18 million (£15.5m) in January 2020, but it has been reported he has been kept on the same salary package from when he was at Leganes.

Braithwaite’s camp have also been said to be ‘despised’ by Barca’s actions, after they elected to give his number nine shirt to Dutch star Memphis Depay, leaving him with the number 12 instead.

Spurs Web Opinion

Barcelona’s financial issues are still pretty dire and Braithwaite requesting an increase in his salary at this moment in time is a questionable play. There is an outside chance of him being a potential backup option at Spurs, but ultimately, he doesn’t really fit the current Spurs profile either.

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