With a week left on the transfer window, Barcelona is still considering their trade options open and they’re actively looking to add more players to their squad before the end of this month. Xavi Hernandez has already added Spanish star Ferran Tores to his squad at Camp Nou and the team is still keeping their eyes open for the opportunity to sign more players.
Barcelona hasn’t lost interest in adding a new attacker on the team since the arrival of Ferran Torres, but thanks to the surprisingly pleasant performances from Luuk De Jong, the two are expected to spearhead Barcelona’s attack this season.
The Catalans have already signed Dani Alves to their team on a free transfer and coach Xavi wants them to sign two more players before the January transfer window closes according to vwin99.net site, an authorized sportsbook from Asia. Coach Xavi is actively looking for a center-forward, especially now that Ansu Fati will be out with an injury for some time.
According to several sports reports, Xavi sees Alvaro Morata as the best choice for a center forward, as the striker has lots of experience in the LA Liga when he was with Atletico Madrid. However, Juventus is expected to make the negotiations hard for Barcelona. However, as good as Morata is and Barcelona is interested in adding him to their squad, that can’t happen without them letting go of a player or two.
Considering that the Catalans might need to let go of a few players, some of the most likely to exit the team include Sergino Dest, Samuel Umtiti, and Ousmane Dembele. However, only Dembele has rejected a new deal.
Umtiti has already signed a contract to cut his salary, giving room for Ferran’s registration, while Dest strongly wants to stay at Camp Nou although coach Xavi hasn’t been convinced. Dest has recently been linked to transfer rumors to Chelsea in the last few weeks, but his agent says that claims that the rumor might not come to fruition this winter.
Dest has put in an impressive performance at Camp Nou since joining the team last season from Ajax, making him among the best young right-backs in the world. His attacking nous, excellent tactical qualities, and athleticism have given the Dutchman a spot in the starting XI and have attracted the attention of various clubs across Europe. However, his agent has revealed that Dest is happy with the Catalans and represents a superb young option for Barcelona as a potential asset to trade in the future.
Various reports have also revealed that Barcelona is looking to add a full-back that can play on either flank, although the chances of adding two players on their team within a week might be difficult. Of course, any possible signings will depend on the club’s ability to offload players first, with Dembele looking highly likely to leave. Nonetheless, it’s not clear whether Dembele will leave before the end of the January transfer window, despite being told by the club that he’ll be sold.
Dembele is believed to be a target for several teams like Chelsea, Juventus, and Manchester on a free transfer, but he has insisted that he won’t be forced out of the squad. His manager, Mousa Sissoko is expected to travel to Barcelona for talks this week and discuss his current situation. However, the 24-year-old was excluded from the team that played against Athletic Bilbao on Thursday night in the Copa del Rey competition.
Despite Dembele’s situation, Barcelona might bring Andreas Christensen to Camp Nou. The Denmark international is expecting his contract with Chelsea to expire this season and it doesn’t seem like he’s planning to extend his over a decade-long career in West London.
According to reports, Christensen has been offered a contract by the blues, but Denmark International hasn’t accepted a renewal. However, Barcelona seems very interested in the services of the 25-year-old, and talks between the two teams are at an advanced stage.
Chelsea didn’t include Christensen in several games last November, and manager Thomas Tuchels confessed that it was mainly because of his contract situation. However, despite Christensen’s refusal to renew his contract with Chelsea, he has featured in eight games in all Chelsea’s competitions since then.
Christensen is currently among Chelsea’s lowest earners, with a weekly salary of €100,000 pre-tax. As such, the Denmark international wants his salary doubled, which might see him receive almost €10 million per year. However, Chelsea has failed to convince the Danish player to spend the prime years of his career in West London and a move to Barcelona seems like a real option.
What’s Next For Barcelona?
At its current state, Coach Xavi Hernandez doesn’t consider Barcelona’s team to be where he wants. As such, with only a few days left in the January transfer window, the Catalan’s coach is keen on making several moves before it closes.
Xavi has already met with Rafa Yuste, Mateu Alemany, and Joan Laporta, making it clear that his team needs reinforcements. The coach wants to bring in a center-back as Samuel Umtiti won’t be available for three months and a left-back to help Jordi Alba get a break. Additionally, Oscar Mingueza is almost leaving to advance his career elsewhere and with Ansu Fati’s injury, the team will need a new forward.
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