Vitor Roque has been the only addition to the FC Barcelona squad in this winter transfer window, but it is clear that the team needs some reinforcements on a very urgent basis.
Xavi’s team is missing Gavi very dearly in their squad, as his energy and commitment in the midfield solved a lot of problems for the Barcelona head coach. But with his ACL tear, there is no one else with his characteristics to replace him in the squad, and the Catalans will have to look into the market for this.
For the most part of the winter window, the financial conditions of the Catalan club kept them from getting a replacement for Gavi. But now, an unfortunate event can turn out to be an opportunity for the Catalans.
As already reported, Barcelona are looking to repeat the Gavi formula with Balde. Gavi’s injury allowed Barcelona to use Article 77 of La Liga regulations and use 80% of his salary to register Vitor Roque. Now, as Balde is also out for a significant time, Barcelona can use his salary to register a new player.
Now SPORT reports that Balde’s injury will allow the Catalans to invest up to €2.6 million net in getting a new player, and it is decided by the club that they will sign a midfielder and not a defender.
Thus, Deco and his staff will be looking to sign a midfielder on a half-season loan. While Balde was one of the starting players for Xavi in the backline, he had not been at his best this season, and Xavi had already played Cancelo on his flank even when he was available.
Thus, the Barcelona head coach might believe that he has enough cover for this position with Cancelo and Fort, and Alonso is also likely to recover in the coming months.
Several players have been linked with Barcelona in the last few months and weeks, but getting a player only for a loan till the end of the season will be difficult as no established star will be too keen to move clubs in the middle of the season.
