BARCELONA, SPAIN – OCTOBER 20: (L-R) Philippe Coutinho of FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona during the La Liga Santander match between FC Barcelona v Sevilla at the Camp Nou on October 20, 2018 in Barcelona Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Barcelona will need a fresh boost in January, and these players can provide that…
Spanish giants FC Barcelona started their season 2018/19 on a positive note following a predominantly busy summer. The Catalan club signed Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich, Arthur from Gremio, Malcolm from Bordeaux and Clement Lenglet from Sevilla.
Ernesto Valverde’s side recently broke their slump in the LaLiga and won their first game in the league since September with an emphatic 4-2 win over Sevilla to go at the top of the table.
Barcelona have some of the best players in their respective positions in the world right now. However, in spite of having a busy summer, La Blaugrana might still need to splash the cash in January so as to plug some gaps that cannot be ignored.
To start with, Barcelona might have found a perfect heir to Xavi Hernandez in Arthur. But they are yet to find a worthy and a long-term successor for their ageing anchorman Sergio Busquets.
They sold Lucas Digne to Everton this summer, which means the position of an understudy for Jordi Alba is vacant at the moment. Add the fact that Alba himself is yet to agree on a new contract at the club, which means signing a left-back is a major priority.
Apt and able replacements are also needed for Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez at the Nou Camp. La Blaugrana certainly can’t rest until they attend to all these issues.
With the January transfer window coming closer as days pass by, here are 5 players Barcelona can consider signing to plug the gaps in their star-studded squad.
eyeing a move</a> for the Englishman. There’s little doubt about the bunch of talents he would bring to the table, should La Blaugrana land him in January.</p>
<p>Eric Dier has made 13 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring a goal in the process. He can operate as a defensive and a center midfielder.</p>
<p>The 24-year-old averages <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/117973/Show/Eric-Dier">1.3 tackles per game. He also has an impressive pass success rate of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/117973/Show/Eric-Dier">88.2% per game and averages <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/117973/Show/Eric-Dier">2.3 long balls per game. He is also a strong presence in the air, winning <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/117973/Show/Eric-Dier">1.2 aerial duels per game.</p>
<p>Eric Dier started his career as a youth prospect at Portuguese outfit Sporting CP and has a valuable experience of having stayed out of the comfort zone, unlike many of his English counterparts.</p>
<p>Add the fact that he is also yet to enter the prime age of his career, which is why Ernesto Valverde must do all that it takes to sign him.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. The Corsair from Lyon </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">PARIS, FRANCE – OCTOBER 7: Ferland Mendy of Lyon during the french Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL, Lyon) at Parc des Princes stadium on October 7, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>#4 Ferland Mendy (Lyon)</h3>
<p>Barcelona’s contract disputes with Jordi Alba are yet to reach a final conclusion. Add the fact that they have already sold his understudy, Lucas Digne, to Everton in the summer this year.</p>
<p>Should there be no positive results following the negotiations, Barcelona will be forced to scour the market for a reinforcement as early as in January. As a matter of fact, they are already looking at one.</p>
<p>Lyon’s Ferland Mendy has already caught the eyes of European heavyweights and has also been <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://everythingbarca.com/2018/10/19/barcelona-ferland-mendy-left-back/">linked with a move to the Nou Camp. The highly-rated 23-year-old resembles Jordi Alba’s peculiar playing style in many ways.</p>
<p>Mendy has a pass success rate of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">88.1% and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">3.7 long passes per game. He also averages <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">1.1 aerial duels per game and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">1.2 tackles per game. He is also an exquisite dribbler, making <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">1.9 dribbles per game down the left flank.</p>
<p>The Frenchman is also blessed with a good vision – a statement backed by his average of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/296337/Show/Ferland-Mendy">1.2 key passes per game. In contrast to Jordi Alba, he offers much more stability in the air.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. The Raumdeuter of Liverpool </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-463094" src=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1047486846-850x560.jpeg" alt="Barcelona have been linked with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">Roberto Firmino of Liverpool FC during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool at Stadio San Paolo Naples Italy on 3 October 2018. (Photo Franco Romano</p>
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<h3>#3 Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)</h3>
<p>That Luis Suarez is one of the best no.9s in the world is out of the question. However, the Uruguayan’s performances in front of goal have dropped considerably in the past two seasons.</p>
<p>Suarez notched <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/7516946/barcelona-roberto-firmino-liverpool/">25 league goals</a> in season 2017/18 and 29 in the season before, failing to match his impressive 40-goal haul in season 2015/16. In such cases, it is but natural to see the officials at Barcelona looking for replacements. As a matter of fact, they are <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/7516946/barcelona-roberto-firmino-liverpool/">rumoured to be interested in a move for Roberto Firmino of Liverpool.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old is hailed by many as Liverpool’s Raumdeuter due to his playing style that is similar to Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller. He has scored just thrice in 12 games this season. A tally that is set to improve as the season progresses, it is his defensive attributes that make him a unique striker and one to have in any top team.</p>
<p>Firmino impressively averages <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/96182/Show/Roberto-Firmino">1.6 tackles per game despite being deployed as a striker. His ability to make tackles and win possession helps Liverpool in orchestrating quick counter-attacks in the opposition half itself.</p>
<p>The Brazilian is well-adept at holding on to the ball and bringing others into play. He also takes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/96182/Show/Roberto-Firmino">1.5 shots per game.</p>
<p>Liverpool tied down Roberto Firmino to a new five-year contract in April this year. However, should the Blaugrana approach with a formal bid, no doubt the Brazilian will find <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.caughtoffside.com/2018/10/20/barcelona-handed-transfer-boost-as-e80m-premier-league-star-dying-to-seal-blagruana-switch/">hard to turn them down</a>.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. The Rock of Leipzig </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-463095" src=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1026416528-850x560.jpeg" alt="Barcelona should sign Dayut Upamecano" width="590" height="389" srcset="https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1026416528-850x560.jpeg 850w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1026416528-768x507.jpeg 768w, https://playingfor90.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1026416528.jpeg 1600w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LEIPZIG, GERMANY – SEPTEMBER 02: Dayot Upamecano of Leipzig runs with the ball during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Fortuna Duesseldorf at Red Bull Arena on September 2, 2018 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Matthias Kern/Bongarts/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>#2 Dayot Upamecano (RB Leipzig)</h3>
<p>When you look at the bunch of attributes Dayot Upamecano brings to the table, it is hard to believe he is just 19. The RB Leipzig center back is one of the brightest young prospects in Europe right now. He would be the perfect man to take over from Spanish veteran Gerard Pique as Barcelona’s future first-choice defender.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>The 19-year-old is a strong presence in the air both during defence and attacks, winning <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327721/Show/Dayotchanculle-Upamecano">3.4 aerial duels per game. He is also well-versed in providing adequate long-balls, making <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327721/Show/Dayotchanculle-Upamecano">3.3 long passes per game.</p>
<p>A ball-playing defender who possesses an astute positional sense, Upamecano has an impressive average of winning <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327721/Show/Dayotchanculle-Upamecano">1.4 offsides per game. He is also an efficient ball winner and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/327721/Show/Dayotchanculle-Upamecano">1.9 successful interceptions per game.</p>
<p>Barcelona were <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/7503516/manchester-united-transfer-news-toby-alderweireld-barcelona-tottenham/">rumoured to be targeting Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld as a successor for Pique, However, signing Dayot Upamecano makes more sense knowing that he is a decade younger than the Belgian and has shown huge promise at a tender age.</p>
<p>And as we very well know, when it comes to nurturing budding talents, few clubs can do the job better than Barcelona.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. The Marauder of Munich </a>
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<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-463096" src=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1052586760-850x560.jpeg" alt="Barcelona should sign Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – OCTOBER 20: Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Munich looks on prior to the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and FC Bayern Muenchen at Volkswagen Arena on October 20, 2018 in Wolfsburg, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>#1 Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)</h3>
<p>Sergi Roberto has been used as the first-choice right-back by Ernesto Valverde, given the midfielder’s versatility to operate in multiple positions on the pitch. Nelson Semedo acts as an understudy to the Spaniard at the Nou Camp.</p>
<p>However, it’s high time for Barcelona to use a natural right-back now. Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich can help the Blaugrana in this case.</p>
<p>The 23-year-old has started his career as a defensive midfielder but has excelled in the right-back role after shifting his position. He is arguably the best young right-back in the world right now.</p>
<p>Kimmich has a pass success rate of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">90.9% per game and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">1.4 tackles per game. He is excellent going forward and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">1.8 key passes per game. He is also an exceptional crosser of the ball, notching an average of <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">1.4 crosses per game.</p>
<p>The fact that Joshua Kimmich gets fouled at an average <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">2.3 times per game tells you how dangerous he is while making attacking runs. He is also a skilled long passer and makes <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2018/10/23/5-players-barcelona-sign-january/"https://www.whoscored.com/Players/283323/Show/Joshua-Kimmich">3.7 long passes per game.</p>
<p>Signing Joshua Kimmich would mean a positional shift for Sergi Roberto; the Spaniard would help in bringing more creativity in the middle and give Valverde an extra option to consider in the midfield.</p>
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<p>Who do you think Barcelona will sign in January?</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">