Barcelona boss Xavi refused to rule out summer exits for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong when asked about the duo during a press conference on Friday.
De Jong has been at the centre of one of the biggest transfer sagas of the summer, with Manchester United said to have been working for the last 10 weeks to bring him to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have thus far been unsuccessful in their pursuit of the Netherlands international, and it is believed that Chelsea are now in the running for his signature.
The Blues have also been heavily linked with Aubameyang, as the club bid to bring in a new forward before the end of the window, having allowed Romelu Lukaku to return to Inter Milan on loan for the 2022-23 campaign.
Xavi, speaking ahead of Saturday's La Liga opener with Rayo Vallecano, said that he is "counting on" Aubameyang before claiming that De Jong is "important" to him.
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However, the legendary midfielder refused to guarantee that both players would be at the club beyond the end of the summer transfer window.
"I am counting on him (Aubameyang). I'm really delighted with him, he can help us,' Xavi told reporters. "Those I am not counting on already know, they know won't play. Between now and 31 August, different things can happen, but I like Auba, he can help us.
"It is the same as Auba, he (De Jong) is important for me. He's in the squad and we will use him. I don't know what will happen between now and 31 August, but not just with Frenkie or with Auba, with almost everyone in the squad."
Aubameyang scored 13 times for Barcelona in the second half of last season following his arrival from Arsenal, but the forward's starting role at Camp Nou is under threat following the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich.
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De Jong, meanwhile, is said to be owed in the region of £17m by Barcelona in deferred wages, with the Catalan giants thought to be keen to move him on this summer to ease their financial problems.
The Dutchman's significant wage packet is also said to be a huge problem for Xavi's side, who have still not been able to register their summer signings with La Liga.
However, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has said on a number of occasions that the club want him to stay beyond the end of the summer window.
"Frenkie de Jong is a Barca player of great quality and we want him to stay. With him and his teammates, we have a very powerful midfield. He has offers, but we want him to stay and he wants to stay too," Laporta recently told reporters.
The 25-year-old made 46 appearances for Barcelona in all competitions during the 2021-22 campaign, contributing four goals and five assists in the process, and he has been heavily involved in their pre-season preparations despite the ongoing transfer talk.
Matt Law
