Barcelona must inform La Liga soon if they want to replace Gavi with Vitor Roque in January

There is not much to look forward to in the upcoming winter transfer market for the Barcelona faithful. The club would indeed have liked to make a few additions to its arsenal, but the crippling financial state does not provide them any leeway.

The only player who could arrive in January is Vitor Roque. Having signed a long term deal with the Blaugranas in the summer, the youngster’s incorporation is only dependant on the team’s status on the financial fairplay front. 

It did not appear possible for long, but Gavi’s ACL injury has said to have opened the doors for Roque’s arrival.

The ball is in Barcelona’s park

Joan Laporta and Co are entitled to sign a replacement for the injured midfield sensation considering that he will be out until the end of the season. It is thus a serious possibility that Barcelona’s utilise that chance to bring Roque in six months early.

According to reports from Luis Rojo, the Catalans must inform La Liga in the coming days that they intend to use Gavi’s space to recruit Roque. If one month passes after the youngster’s injury without such official communication, they will not be entitled to sign a replacement.

Any incoming player must not earn more than 80% of Gavi’s space on the wage bill. The only catch, however, is that the aforementioned 80% would count on Barcelona’s wage bill for the 2024-25 season and thereby hamper any plans of a new summer signing.

Xavi and Deco thus opt to wait a little longer and evaluate the team’s immediate needs before committing to La Liga.

Deco provides as update

Earlier this week, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco spoke to the media about the Brazilian protege’s possible recruitment in the summer and the chance the move would materialise.

“It has not yet been decided whether or not we will register Vitor Roque. I think that in the end, that may be the possibility,” he said, keeping the doors open to the possibility.

If indeed Barcelona manage to bring Roque in, it would come as a huge boost to the manager’s plans. After all, it would provide Xavi with a like-for-like replacement for Robert Lewandowski while also giving the new signing enough time to accustom himself to the Barcelona way.