With European football now back underway as the calendar turns towards 2023, giant clubs like FC Barcelona will renew their trophy chase over the next six months and they have a chance to potentially bolster their squad in an attempt to add to their silverware collection.
For Barcelona, the focus is squarely on the La Liga title, as they lead rivals Real Madrid by two points at the top of the standings. The Blaugrana are out of the Champions League after a second-straight group stage exit, but they are hoping to win the Europa League for the first time.
An already strong Barcelona team are not expected to make any major acquisitions during the January transfer window, but could pounce on any opportunities that might crop up. They would need to seek creative ways to overcome the financial difficulties stemming from the past few years which still hover over the team.
Below we’re tracking all the names (possibly) joining star summer transfers Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha to help the club get back to its glory days.
MORE: Barcelona’s history in the Europa League cup competition
Updated Barcelona transfers
Players in
| Date | Player | Club | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | — |
Players out
| Date | Player | Club | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 1, 2023 | Gerard Pique | — | Retired |
Latest Barcelona transfer news, rumors
It’s no surprise that the club continues to be linked to some of the top names in the game and some of those include Memphis Depay, Ruben Neves, Benjamin Pavard, N’Golo Kante, and Sofyan Amrabat.
In addition to those, there are notable rumors floating about the following players:
- Barcelona are apparently no longer in for Manchester City midfielders Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, according to reports from Spanish journalist Alfredo Martinez and SPORT.
- Marca reports that the ongoing renewal talks with Alex Balde, could lead to the signing of Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves, who shares the same agent (Jorge Mendes). Neves’s contract at English side Wolves runs through June 2024 and he could be a Sergio Busquets replacement.
- Sport claims that Barcelona are hoping that young German teen sensation Youssoufa Moukoko will opt to sign with the club despite richer offers from other clubs ahead of his contract expiring in the summer of 2023.
- Chelsea have beaten Barcelona to the signing of young Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos, says Fabrizio Romano.
- Ansu Fati could be up for sale as Barcelona look to raise funds in the transfer market, but only for a price of €80 million, says Spanish tabloid El Nacional.
MORE: Xavi turned down Brazil World Cup managerial post for Barcelona job
Memphis Depay blocking move
Memphis Depay is reportedly standing in the way of any transfer moves out of the club because he wants to stay with the Blaugrana.
According to Marca’s Mari Carmen Torres, given his Barcelona contract expires in June, he would only agree to leave in January if Barcelona terminate his contract early, making him a free agent six months ahead of time. But Barca would prefer to bring in some cash given there is demands for the player.
Barcelona pushing for N’Golo Kante
There have been rumors that Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is looking to leave for Barcelona, and could sign a pre-contract in January ahead of a free transfer this summer.
Dario Sport have reported he would be interested in that move, but that he has “other important offers on the table” and wants an answer from Barcelona so he can get his future sorted. Yet the financial issues at Barcelona are reportedly making things difficult.
🚨 Barcelona could finalise a deal to sign France midfielder N’Golo Kante, whose contract at Chelsea runs out in the summer, during January depending on the 31-year-old’s recovery from a hamstring injury.
🇫🇷 🟦 #CFC 🟥 #ForçaBarça https://t.co/OBnfLT7a3F pic.twitter.com/B32jtkd7vR— Ekrem KONUR (@Ekremkonur) December 11, 2022
Barcelona one of many clubs in for Sofyan Amrabat
One of the biggest winners from the World Cup is Moroccan midfielder Sofyan Amrabat who was exceptional for the African nation as the Atlas Lions reached the semifinals.
A number of clubs have been reportedly interested in the Fiorentina man since the tournament in Qatar concluded, and Barcelona are one of them, according to Barcelona-based transfer journalist Toni Juanmarti of Relevo.
The report states that Amrabat would cost around €40 million, with Fiorentina motivated to sell as his contract expires in the summer of 2024.
El Barça ha preguntado por Amrabat para verano. El jugador ya sabe que gusta en Barcelona, pero los 40M que pide la Fiore lo alejan del Camp Nou. El Tottenham está bien colocado. #fcblivehttps://t.co/YCUYqdkT9z
— Toni Juanmartí (@tjuanmarti) December 17, 2022
Barcelona hoping to rescue Benjamin Pavard
Benjamin Pavard has reportedly become disillusioned at Bayern Munich, and Barcelona are hoping to swoop in this January to rescue the French right-back, according to AS journalist Javi Miguel.
Pavard’s contract at the Bundesliga club ends in the summer of 2024, so this winter would be the time to sell, lest he reach the final year of his contract. He’s one of a list of right-backs the club is pursuing to finally address that sector of the field: Thomas Meunier (Borussia Dortmund) and Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli) are two of the others, according to Sport.
Interestingly, Pavard lost his right-back position with the French national team at the World Cup to Barcelona’s Jules Kounde. There were reports that Pavard ran afoul of the squad during this World Cup after accusations that he was leaking things to the media.
