Four positions Barcelona need to address in January following UCL exit
After getting knocked out of the UEFA Champions League following a 3-3 draw at the Camp Nou, while Inter thrashed Viktoria Plzen 4-0 at the San Siro, Barcelona are keen to reinforce their squad in January.
Xavi has thus identified four key positions that need to be covered this winter, especially after the retirement of Gerard Pique, leaving some funds available for the club to work with in January.
1) Right-back
After the departure of Dani Alves last season, Barcelona have been struggling on the right-hand side, even after signing Hector Bellerin the summer on a one-year contract. As a result, Barca want a strong reinforcement there.
A report from Spanish news outlet ARA Esports has stated that Barca could look to signing Girona right-back Arnau Martinez in January, with his €20 million release clause being attractive for Barca.
2) Central defensive midfielder
For more than two decades, Sergio Busquets has made this position his own and has been the pivot of Barca's midfield. However, he is getting on a bit now, and Barca want to reinforce that area even more.
According to Fernando Polo (via Managing Barca), Xavi and his technical staff prefer 23-year-old Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, while Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves has been offered to the club by Jorge Mendes.
3) Central midfielder
Barcelona is a club known for great midfielders, yet this season they only have Pedri and Gavi, who are former and current winners of the Kopa Trophy respectively.
While they also have Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie, they are already looking to sign Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, and the club tried to sign hm last summer.
According to Ekrem Konur, Barca will make another attempt to sign the Portuguese star in January. Man City remain in talks with Silva over his future at the club.
4) Striker
While Robert Lewandowski has proven to be an astute signing, this is the position where Barca are trying to blood more youth in for the future.
A few names have appeared on their list, such as Endrick Felipe and Youssoufa Moukoko, but Barcelona are mainly targeting Brazilian striker Vitor Roque.
According to Roger Torello, Barca want to sign the 17-year-old Athletico Paranaense forward, after former club legend Deco scouted him, yet they face plenty of competition from other top European sides.
What do you make of these? Will Barcelona manage to get any of these integral positions sorted during the winter window?
