FC Barcelona Will Not Make Any New Signings In January Transfer Window

FC Barcelona will not make any new signings in the January transfer window, according to a series of reports.

The Blaugrana spent heavily in the summer, using the activation of ‘economic levers’ to shell out a reported €158mn ($171.5mn) on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde, and Raphinha.

Save for the latter-mentioned Brazilian who has experienced mixed form, these signings have been a roaring success and key to Barca topping the La Liga table and winning the Spanish Super Cup against bitter rivals Real Madrid with around half of the 2022/2023 season already played.

Head coach Xavi Hernandez insisted at the start of the month that he was happy with his squad and that he didn’t expect any new arrivals in the ongoing transfer market. But with the exit of Netherlands forward Memphis Depay for €3mn ($3.25mn) to Atletico Madrid, this has reportedly led to the manager expecting reinforcements that, according to leading Spanish newspapers such as Mundo Deportivo and MARCA, won’t be forthcoming.

Late on Monday evening, MD reported that there was “pessimism” behind the scenes at Camp Nou when it comes to being able to strengthen the squad before the window closes on February 1.

Originally calculating that they would have around €3.5mn ($3.8mn) to spend, Barca allegedly received news last weekend that there will be no margin to operate with and make new signings despite the recent departures of club legend Gerard Pique and Memphis.

Further offloads would have to be made to bring in new blood, but the coaching staff reportedly isn’t confident that any potential players within reach would be able improve on those that they already have.

MARCA supports such claims, reporting that Financial Fair Play rules limit Barca and that registering or adjusting the contracts of Ronald Araujo, Gavi, Alejandro Balde and Inaki Pena will instead take priority.

This would appear to be the right step. Save for bringing in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last minute this time last year, Barca have hardly had the greatest success when it comes to the winter market.

Rather than trying to shoehorn a player that isn’t needed into an already packed squad, it would be better to try and make the mentioned quartet happy and feel valued as the supposed future of the club it is often said they are.

Despite Memphis departing from the wing, Xavi still has a litany of options in that area of the pitch too.

Though the flanks are proving one of the most difficult positions to exact top form from the forwards, president Joan Laporta and Mateu Alemany will fail to find a free transfer better than any of Ansu Fati, Raphinha and Ferran Torres to name a few.

This might not be the case in the summer, however, when the contracts of some elsewhere on the continent are nearing expiry or have already run their course.