It has only been slightly more than a month since the summer transfer window closed, but FC Barcelona has already started planning for the upcoming winter window.
The Catalans signed Vitor Roque in the last summer transfer window, paying his Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense €30 million fixed, and promising another €31 million in variables. However, the youngster is yet to arrive at Barcelona and is still with Athletico Paranaense for the time being.
Roque’s arrival the top priority for Barcelona
According to Mundo Deportivo, incorporating the Brazilian forward into the Barcelona squad is the top priority for the Blaugranes in the winter transfer window. However, the Catalans would need funds for this purpose, at least €40 million, to undertake this operation and get Roque registered with La Liga.
However, Problems with FFP mean the Catalan club will undertake no other business in January. Barcelona already have secured a source of this income, as the Catalans expect to receive €40 million from the German Libero Football Fund.
The Germans are already late on their payments to Barcelona and are facing liquidity problems, and if the club does not get the money from this source, the club will have to undertake other business to complete Roque’s operation.
The Blaugranes will be making a full effort to get Roque in January, and more so after the injury suffered by Robert Lewandowski in the last match against Porto. Now, Barcelona’s higher-ups feel Roque is needed even more urgently at the Catalan club as the 35-year-old Lewandowski would have to be given more rest at this stage of his career.
Deco to travel to Brazil on Monday
Meanwhile, Roque is himself working towards recovery from an injury that he got a few weeks ago in a Brazilian Serie A match. He was expected to be out for three months and will make his return to action only in December, after which he will start working on his move to Barcelona.
Deco will travel to Brazil on the upcoming Monday, with the aim of monitoring how Roque’s treatment from injury is going and supporting him in this difficult time. The Sporting Director will also let him know that Barcelona will make all the required efforts to get him registered in the winter.
