While they may be sat atop the La Liga table and their Champions League group, reports claim that Barcelona are already considering January reinforcements.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have won all-but one of their opening eight league games, and have collected maximum points in Europe after three outings thus far.
In turn, you’d be forgiven for thinking that they’ve got enough to ensure that they can compete on various fronts this season.
Barcelona look to bring in a defender
However, according to Mundo Deportivo that’s not the case, as Valverde wants the Catalan giants to bring in another defender in the January transfer market and is said to be in a disagreement with the club over which target to bring in.
It’s noted that Palmeiras and Colombia defender Yerry Mina is the favourite to arrive, and Barca can snap him up for €9m in January, while his fee would increase to €10m next summer.
The 22-year-old is considered a top prospect in South America and would be decent cover in the event that either Samuel Umtiti or Gerard Pique got injured, but it’s claimed that Valverde isn’t convinced as he’ll naturally need time to settle and integrate to get up to speed with football in Europe.
That could complicate matters and force Barcelona to look elsewhere, with director Robert Fernandez said to be an admirer of Ajax youngster Matthijs de Ligt. While that’s more likely to be a summer swoop, it remains to be seen firstly whether Barcelona act in January, and if so, who they try to bring in.
Back in for Coutinho in January?
Further, Mundo Deportivo also note that the La Liga leaders will launch a ‘final attack’ for Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho.
The Brazilian ace was heavily linked with a move to the Nou Camp this past summer and even handed in a transfer request to make the transfer happen. However, Liverpool remained resolute and never agreed a fee with Barca, and it seems they’re unlikely to change their mind anytime soon.
For one, Coutinho has since reintegrated himself into Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up and is now cup-tied in Europe as he seems focused on his current employers. Further, the report claims that Barcelona will not increase their previous offer of €80m up front with an additional €30m in bonuses, and so if Liverpool weren’t willing to agree in the summer, then why would they change their mind in January?
It sounds like a very complicated matter as the report claims that Liverpool will be open to an exit in January, provided that they receive a satisfactory offer. In turn, it doesn’t sound as though much has changed since the summer, and with no agreement between the clubs in place, the move simply can’t happen.