Like many clubs today, one defeat seems to be enough to plunge Barcelona into a major crisis. There have been almost constant rumours of Xavi Hernandez losing his job, and that discussion will only intensify if they slip further from the top of La Liga. After 18 games, they are seven points behind Real Madrid and Girona, meaning that defending their title is becoming less and less likely.
As we all know, so far in the 2023 24 season, Barcelona have had quite a few injuries, and the gap to the top of the table is wider than they expected. If they don't make it to the last 16 of the Champions League, Xavi is likely to be in serious trouble, especially given that his relationship with those above seems to be very strained. Here's a look at the areas Barca are likely to consider addressing in the January 2024 transfer window and the players they might be targeting.
Depth of attack
Just like their main rivals, Real Madrid, Barcelona do not have a traditional striker at the moment. They have Robert Lewandowski, but there are few other options behind him. Joao Felix can play this central role, but he is very different from Lewandowski. The good news is that Brazilian youngster Vito Roque is expected to join in January, which offers a new option, but the 18-year-old may need another striker on a short-term contract who can guarantee goals.
Key objectives
Considering the club's desire to no longer sign older and expensive stars who have underperformed in recent years, most of their transfer links have been with young South Americans like Roque. The Catalan giants are interested in 17-year-old Gianluca Prestiani from Sarsfield, who has been compared to Wayne Rooney, but Benfica look ready to complete their deal first. He can play in the middle and on the wing, and if Barcelona can dominate up front, he will be a versatile addition.
Defensive midfielder
Barcelona have already felt the effects of Sergio Busquets' departure for the 2023 24 season, and while they did sign Oriol Romeu as a short-term replacement, he is not Sergio Busquets and is expected to be phased out. Barcelona have many very talented midfielders, but they are all more creative. They lack the kind of player who has the energy to cover and attack, a role that Busquets has defined at Camp Nou over the last decade or so. Club president Joan Laporta has confirmed that Barcelona will bring in a midfielder in the January transfer window, and a midfielder with defensive qualities will be able to do just that.
Key objectives
Once again, Barcelona are targeting the role of a young star. 18-year-old midfielder Gabriel Moscardo has been in the hunt, but Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement with Corinthians. Barcelona are also considering bringing in Tottenham player Giovanni Lo Celso, but whether he can play Xavi's preferred midfield role is another matter entirely.
Right-back
Since the end of Danny Alves' tenure at the club, there has been a lot of rotation in this position. Xavi appeared to have opted for Joao Cancelo in the first half of the season, although he also replaced Alejandro Balde on the left with the Portugal international. Jules Conte and Ronald Araujo have also played in this role. There is a clear desire for a consistent right-back to help Barcelona define a back four, a position that is not lacking across Europe at the moment.
Key objectives
Trent Alexander-Arnold has had a bold link with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold in the past, but he will almost certainly remain in the Premier League. Girona right-back Arnaud Martinez, who has been in the Barca youth system for six years, is known to be interested in Barca, but Barca need to beat the rivalry of Real Madrid and Manchester City. However, this will weaken Girona and ensure that a talented young player does not cause any registration problems for Barça.