With the January Transfer window looming – certain rumours have been thrown around since the beginning of the 12/13 season. Here I will take a look at the top 5 potential 'comings and goings' that will affect Barcelona.
With only £58,000,000 spent in The British Transfer Market last January – it is fair to say that compared to the summer window, top flight managers are much more reluctant to spend. That said – with such success stories like Papiss Cisse and Nikica Jelavic people may wonder why managers do not spend? Of course, the likes of big spenders Manchester City and Chelsea are in the latter stages of assembling their squads to challenge domestically and on the continent.
In this article – I will look at transfer rumours surrounding Barcelona. The potential comings and goings and reasons behind the move.
Barcelona: Coming In
Tim Krul
The 24-year-old Dutchman has caught the eye of many after establishing himself as Newcastle's No 1. Barcelona are reportedly looking to bring in the Premier League stopper as back-up for Valdes and with current reserve goalkeeper Pinto set to leave in the summer the Catalan club will be looking to bring Krul in sooner rather than later, although he is not likely to be cheap.
Neymar
According to reports in Spain Neymar is set to join Barcelona next summer, but with French club PSG also interested in the Brazilian starlet they may have to move quicker if they are to bring in one of the hottest prospects on the planet. It had been thought that Neymar would remain in Brazil until after the 2014 world cup but that now looks unlikely with so many of Europe’s elite clambering to sign him.
Fernando Llorente
Barca boss Tito Vilanova apparently regards Llorente as a player who would give him the option of switching tactics and is in his plans for next season. But with competition likely from Manchester United for the Bilbao striker they may be looking to arrange a pre-contract agreement with the player in January.
Laurent Koscielny
Barcelona are once again eyeing up a move to sign an Arsenal star. Nou Camp boss Vilanova has reportedly earmarked the centre-back for a January move to Spain to bolster his injury his defence. Koscielny first caught the eye of the Catalans after his performances against them in the Champions League. Although Arsenal would be reluctant to sell yet another of their key players to the Spanish outfit.
David Luiz
Another defender that Barcelona have been linked with is Chelsea's Daivd Luiz. He would cost a reported ₤30 million but Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo has insisted that the centre-back would not be leaving Stamford Bridge, saying that no player should have any reason for leaving the London club.
Barcelona: Going out
David Villa
The potential arrival of Neymar could mean that David Villa is no longer required at Barcelona and would almost certainly have to leave to bring down the club's wage to facilitate the signing of Neymar. Liverpool are being touted as a possible destination following injuries to Fabio Borini meaning the club only have one fit senior striker.
Sergio Roberto
He was touted as the next Sergio Busquets but could now be on the clubs transfer list with Ajax sounded out as potential buyers. The Dutch champions sporting director Marc Overmars has been seen attending games in Catalunya which has further fueled speculation that the youngster is set to leave.
Gerard Deulofeu
Chelsea have been most recently linked the Barcelona starlet, after reportedly scouting the youngster since he was 16-years-old. They are said to be ready to make an ₤8 million bid in the January transfer window. Deulofeu is currently only on a youth contract with could make negotiations for any deal easier for The Blues with Barcelona likely to request a buy-back clause in any contract.
Ibrahim Afellay
Afellay was sent out on loan to Schalke 04 at the beginning of this season after being seen as surplus to requirements in Spain. The 26 year old Dutch winger has been linked with a move away from Barcelona for sometime now and his recent loan deal seems to confirm that he is not in Tito Vilanova's plans for the future.
Jose Manuel Pinto
Barcelona's reserve keeper has been the subject of recent transfer speculation stating that he could leave the club in search of first team football. Making only 14 league appearances since joining the club in January 2008
Source: DSG
