Barcelona remains in a vulnerable financial position, and the club does not have the resources it used to. For this reason, whenever the club is presented with a good opportunity, it tends to look into it with interest. Ultimately, Barcelona does try to reinforce the team wherever possible.
However, the Catalans may find their hands tied, as their finances do not allow for a high-value signing, and the Barcelona President, Joan Laporta, also hinted at trying to get a midfielder on loan in January if the club’s FFP situation allowed for it.
While options will be limited in January, Barcelona can find several high-quality midfielders to be signed for free in the summer window. Mundo Deportivo has identified a number of midfielders whose contracts will be ending on 30th June 2024, and who might tempt Barcelona.
These players include:
Tomas Soucek (28 years old)
The Czech stands out with his physicality and making attacking runs despite playing mainly as a part of a double pivot. He has been a regular starter for the Premier League side West Ham United since his move in January 2020 and has scored 29 goals for the Hammers across all competitions.
He rejected a contract extension last summer, and Inter Milan are interested in signing him in January.
Adrien Rabiot (28 years old)
The Frenchman has been a consistent performer for Juventus ever since his move to Italy in the 2019-20 season. Rabiot has a silky dribbling ability, stamina, and a knack for scoring goals, and he has accumulated nineteen goals for the Old Lady. He plays best in a double pivot, accompanied by a more positional midfielder.
Daichi Kamada (27 years old)
Kamada is less efficient in front of goal than the former two midfielders but plays a more offensive game. His first touch makes him a particularly suitable candidate for Barcelona, but he lacks physical presence.
Piotr Zielenski (29 years old)
The Pole has developed and proven his mettle in the highly demanding Italian league, having started with Udinese, and then played for Empoli, and now taking to the field for Napoli. He also has an ability to score goals, as he has scored 48 for Napoli since 2016.
Guido Rodriguez (29 years old)
The Argentine is looking to leave Real Betis at the end of this season, and Barcelona have long been linked with him as he can arrive for free. He is the most positional midfielder in this list.
Pablo Fornals (27 years old)
The Spain international is not as prominent with West Ham United this season, but the fact that he has been called up by Luis Enrique for his Spain side shows that his quality is beyond any doubt. He is more of an attacking midfielder and does not excel in defensive roles.
Jorginho (32 years old)
Now at the tail end of his career, the Italy international still has the quality and character to contribute effectively to a top team like Arsenal. He still guarantees technique and control in the midfield, and Barcelona can find his experience and skillset useful in some matches.
Thiago Alcantara (32 years old)
Thiago is also now in the latter phase of his career, but, like Jorginho, can still contribute to a top team. However, his case is worsened by his physical problems that have kept him from making a debut in this season. If fitness was not a problem, he would be a very good fit for Barcelona because of his skills and knowledge of the club.
De Roon (32 years old)
This is the seventh season in which the Dutch international has been a key midfielder for the Italian side Atalanta. His versatility makes him a highly alluring candidate, as he can play both a physical and a technical role.
Wilfred Ndidi (27 years old)
Ndidi has been too good for the second-tier Championship with Leicester City and has spearheaded his club’s charge to get a promotion to the Premier League. Sevilla can sign him this winter, but if he becomes a free agent in the summer, Barcelona might find him useful because of the energy he brings to the midfield.
