Four players on Barcelona’s radar as they target a pivot midfielder for January – report

Even though it has been less than a week since the summer transfer window closed, plans are already underway for the January window at FC Barcelona.

The Blaugrana made several signings during the summer and could very likely welcome Vitor Roque in January, having agreed a deal with Athletico Paranaense for his signing.

But, it appears that the Catalans’ recruitment team will not rest at that as they want to bring in another player in the winter, in particular, a pivot midfielder, according to Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo.

After bidding goodbye to Sergio Busquets in the summer, Barcelona signed Oriol Romeu to plug the hole but want another player for the position even though the likes of Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan ar capable of filling the slot if needed.

As such, the report claims that Barcelona’s sporting department, headed by new director Deco, has four names on the agenda to reinforce the pivot midfield position in January.

Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis)

The Argentine World Cup winner was on Barcelona’s agenda during the summer as well as a possible option for the pivot position, but ultimately they decided in favour of Romeu.

However, with the midfielder’s contract expiring in 2024, a January move could be considered, more so given the good relationship between Barça and Real Betis.

Los Verdiblancos do not wish to lose Rodriguez for free and if he has not signed a new contract by December, they could be open to the idea of a sale to get some fee for him, providing the Catalan giants with a window of opportunity.

Joao Palhinha (Fulham)

A player that has been endorsed by Deco, Palhinha was on Barcelona’s radars during the summer although a move was never a realistic possibility due to Fulham’s valuation of the player.

A tall and powerful pivot, Palhinha is also a solid passer of the ball and is rated highly by Deco.

The Portuguese international came close to leaving Fulham for Bayern Munich, but the move collapsed late on deadline day. Any move in January could thus depend on whether the Bavarians reactivate their pursuit of him or not.

Florentino Luis (Benfica)

Another Portuguese midfielder on the list that Barcelona have prepared, Florentino Luis was also linked with a move to the La Liga champions during the summer but nothing really came of it.

The 24-year-old, who has a contract with Benfica until 2027, is also a pick by Deco. But he could cost a fairly significant fee, though, much like Palhinha, making a deal unlikely due to the Financial Fair Play situation at the Catalan club.

Jorginho (Arsenal)

The final name on the list is a player who has been linked with Barcelona on several occasions in the past – Arsenal veteran Jorginho.

The Italian international has lost prominence at the Emirates this season following the arrival of Declan Rice. A move away this summer had been speculated heavily, but Jorginho’s agent recently shut down talks of an exit for the moment.

However, if his situation does not improve by January, an exit could become a possibility. And Barça are tracking the situation of the ex-Chelsea man as his contract stands to expire in 2024.