0
0
Barcelona sports director Deco has admitted that making any signings during the January transfer window will be “difficult.”
Despite their financial difficulties, the La Liga champions were able to bring in five new players during the summer transfer window, with Oriol Romeu joining from Girona and Ilkay Gundogan and Inigo Martinez joining on free transfers.
In the last days of the summer transfer window, Barcelona also sealed loan deals for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix.
There have been reports that Catalan coach Xavi has identified central midfield as an area in need of improvement when the winter transfer window opens.
Deco, on the other hand, has conceded that any January signings are improbable due to the club’s financial position.
“It will be difficult to sign anyone in January,” Deco said, according to Mundo Deportivo. “We are always ready in case an opportunity presents itself, but I don’t think it will be possible.”
Barcelona has agreed to sign Athletico Paranaense youth Vitor Roque, but Deco has stated that a mid-season move for the attacker is not guaranteed.
“It doesn’t solely depend on the efforts of the club,” he said. “There is some of it that does, but some of it does not.”
“Vitor is a player we signed for the future and the present.” We have faith in him, but we’ll have to see what we can do. We’ll have to wait and see how things go. If not now, it certainly will be in July.”
Roque, 18, has 27 goals and 11 assists in 78 games for his current club in all competitions, and Barcelona is said to have beaten a slew of prominent European clubs to his signature.
The La Liga club’s desire to sign the teenager in January rather than July stems from Xavi’s current lack of options in the final third of the field.
Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal are all now injured, which will be a concern ahead of Sunday’s La Liga match against Athletic Bilbao.
Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde, Frenkie de Jong, and Pedri are all absent, but the club is confident that a number of players will return for the El Clasico against Real Madrid on October 28.
Barcelona is still unblemished after a good start to the season, despite being reduced to a 2-2 tie by Granada before the international break.
