The winter transfer window is officially open and here is the latest news from cash strapped FC Barcelona.
Completed deals
Barcelona have been linked with a number of players despite being in a financial mess.
The club recorded billions of Euros in losses and debts in Jose Maria Bartomeu’s tenure as president and are currently facing their toughest period yet.
Joan Laporta, however, has managed to tie down key youngsters to new contracts with improved wages, while also signing Dani Alves and Ferran Torres for free and €55 million respectively ahead of the January window.
Both players will now be registered as January signings as Xavi Hernandez continues his squad rebuild.
Rumoured deals and contacts
Torres was one of a few Manchester City stars linked with a switch to the Camp Nou. Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva were also rumoured to be in the sights of Barcelona.
Sterling is reportedly learning Spanish from former teammate Torres who is now at Barcelona, and it has been claimed that the England international is preparing for a move to Barcelona.
Fresh reports now claim that another City player, Aymeric Laporte, who is valued at €65 million, is the club’s latest target as Xavi seeks to pair him with his former City teammate, Eric Garcia.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani as well as Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are also rumoured to be on Barcelona’s radar. The strikers are touted as replacements for Sergio Aguero who had to retire due to health issues after just four matches for Barcelona.
Xavi, however, is thought to be on the lookout for a midfielder to replace Busquets who Xavi wants to ease out of the starting 11.
As a result, the club have reportedly established contact with Swiss midfielder Dennis Zakaria who will not be renewing his contract at Borussia Monchengladbach as announced by the German Bundesliga club.
Ajax Amsterdam right-back, Noussair Mazraoui, is also a target and the club is reportedly working on signing him this January. His signing could be key to helping Barcelona sign the most sought-after player in football at the moment, Erling Haaland.
Potential departures
The club’s financial situation has reportedly led to them putting all but Pedri, Ansu Fati, and a few others on the transfer shortlist.
Philippe Coutinho and Sergiño Dest especially are two players whose futures at Camp Nou beyond January are currently in doubt.
The Brazilian is wanted by a number of clubs including Arsenal, Newcastle United and Everton in the Premier League, and Inter Milan in the Serie A, according to rumours.
Dest is attracting interest from Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and most recently, Juventus according to rumours.
Clement Lenglet could also be on his way out this January with both Sevilla and Tottenham Hotspur strongly interested in the 26-year-old per confirmed reports. However, Xavi would welcome the opportunity to keep Lenglet for longer at the Camp Nou as he considers the defender a key squad player.
