With Gavi, one of the integral parts of their midfield, out with an ACL tear, FC Barcelona are looking to sign another midfielder in the winter window, especially one who can cover a lot of ground in the middle of the pitch. This has been confirmed by both Joan Laporta and Xavi Hernandez in recent days.
However, while Gavi played mostly as an interior midfielder, Mundo Deportivo reports that Barcelona are not looking for an interior in this window, but for a midfield pivot who can play in front of the defense, while also being comfortable when moving higher up on the pitch.
Thus, the club’s priority is to sign a player that can cover the positions generally taken by Frenkie de Jong, especially since the Dutchman’s return from injury almost one month ago.
Ilkay Gundogan has also played in this position in some matches, but if a specialist pivot can be signed, both these players will be free to take positions higher up on the pitch.
In addition to Gavi’s injury, Xavi’s midfield has also got thinner with the head coach’s lack of confidence in Oriol Romeu, who is currently the only natural midfield pivot in the squad. In the last fifteen matches, the former Girona midfielder has played only five games, despite Frenkie de Jong also having missed several games due to injury.
However, even if a midfielder of this profile is brought in the winter, his addition will not signal Oriol Romeu’s departure. Barcelona does not want Romeu to leave, especially with their already short squad and with Pedri already out with an injury.
The arrival of this midfielder is also not given as things stand, and it will depend mainly on Barcelona’s financial fair play situation.
Barcelona cannot generate enough income from the sales of Romeu or Marcos Alonso, and the injection of cash through Libero or another party with the sale of Barca Studios remains the only realistic scenario that can allow the club to sign such a midfielder.
