Barcelona vice-president provides update on January transfer plans: “Always on the lookout”

FC Barcelona have enjoyed a topsy-turvy start to the new season. From their elimination from the Champions League to the retirement of Gerard Pique, the club have experienced all so far and could be in for yet another joyride as we brace ourselves for a mid-season break.

With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Barcelona are expected to scour the market during this phase and potentially target a few players in the upcoming January transfer window.

Such has now been confirmed by club vice-president Rafael Yuste. In a recent interview, the Spaniard has stated that Barça are actively on the lookout for new players, but a lot could depend on the Financial Fair Play regulations.

“Mateu [Alemany] and Jordi [Cruyff] are always on the lookout. We have to see how Fair Play turns out. You have to do things very carefully,” he said (h/t Victor Navarro).

Barcelona have had altercations with the Fair Play regulations in Spain multiple times in the recent past. Their inflated wage budget has been the main problem, coupled with the club’s relatively low revenues during the pandemic.

However, the retirement of Pique should greatly help them balance the books, with the club also hoping to offload a few unwanted stars in the January transfer window.

This should pave the way for the Catalans to sign a few new faces after the turn of the year. Recent reports suggest the club are primarily looking for a new centre-back and a right-back, especially amid uncertainty over the future of Hector Bellerin, coupled with the departure of Pique.