Six Sales And Signings FC Barcelona Need To Make Before The Transfer Window Closes

The European transfer window closes a week from now on January 31, and FC Barcelona – or rather their director of football, Mateu Alemany, who has moved mountains in his role thus far – still have to do.

The Catalans have already managed to offload record signing Philippe Coutinho on loan to Aston Villa and reduce Samuel Umtiti’s wages to make way room in the salary cap so that $62mn signing from Manchester City Ferran Torres and free veteran Dani Alves could be registered.

Before the week is out, however, there are more sales or loans in mind with Umtiti’s exit postponed for now due to the French World Cup winner picking up a foot injury.

Failing to impress yesterday in a rare start offered to him by Xavi Hernandez, Sergino Dest’s days are numbered at Camp Nou though he would reportedly like to try and convince the tactician of his worth between now and the summer. Alves’ arrival means that he is surplus to requirements, however, and Barca will hope that rumored interested parties such as Chelsea or Bayern Munich make an approach.

Also in that area of the pitch, Oscar Mingueza has shown that he is perhaps not yet ready to operate at the top level after being found out in games such as El Clasico where he was continually burned by Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. Rather than sell him permanently, it is thought by the club that he might fare better at Valencia on loan to play more minutes in La Liga and then assess him with contract expiry approaching in June 2023.

Speaking of which, Ousmane Dembele – a $152mn capture from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 – can walk for nothing much sooner in said month this year. As his agents demand Neymar-esque numbers to sign on the dotted line and renew, Barca would prefer to cash in what they can beforehand and he now looks like being confined to the stands to watch his soon to be ex-teammates play out the rest of the 2021/2022.

As Inaki Pena on loan to Galatasaray would probably be the last exit, the club would like to bring Nicolas Tagliafico in to provide support to Jordi Alba and reinforce the left back position.

The Argentina international is said to be forcing his departure and hopes that Ajax will facilitate his dream move, but Olympique Marseille are also in the hunt for the 29-year-old rated at around $8mn.

Up front, Alvaro Morata is too expensive from Atletico Madrid but As tout Elche’s Lucas Boye as another possible option.