The players they're looking to offload are done at the top level. They've achieved their dream of playing for their dream club at the highest level, and found out that it wasn't all that much. There aren't a lot of projects in football interesting enough to meet their salary demands, while having a great enough challenge to keep them motivated. I can see Griezmann seeing out see contract, and going on a couple of loans with Barca covering a big chunk of his salary, and then returning to Atleti if Simeone is still there. Dembele has the time to resurrect his career, but there are no indications that he has any hunger to make it big.
IMO it was mismanagement bordering on maliciousness.
Signing Turan, Coutinho, Griezmann when you're stacked in wide areas and desperately lacking quality in midfield and for a Suarez replacement.
Signing outright mediocre players like Gomes, Digne, Mina.
Players who are past their peak and on the way down like Vidal, Pjanic,
Mismanaging talents like Arthur, Malcom, Dembele, Alcacer
They've spent top dollar for a backup keeper in Neto and Cillessen.
Crazy transfers like Paulinho, Boateng, Braithwaite!
Would someone look at that transfer history, and say that these were made by a club intending to compete for UCL?