Transfer windows are never quiet at Barcelona, but we looked set for less drama this January — until Andreas Christensen picked up an injury this weekend.
The Denmark centre-back is expected to be out for around four months with a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. With Barca still overspending on their La Liga-imposed salary limit, that could be significant — it could allow them to register a new signing on a portion of Christensen’s wages under the competition’s rules.
Here, we answer all the key questions about that and the rest of Barca’s January business. The information found within this article has been gathered according to The Athletic’s sourcing guidelines. Sources with knowledge of transfer dealings, who asked to be kept anonymous to protect relationships, have been spoken to before offering the clubs involved the opportunity to comment.
What is the manager’s priority?
Hansi Flick’s priority should be in defence. Barcelona are short of bodies at centre-back after Inigo Martinez’s surprise exit to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr in the summer, the period of indefinite leave Ronald Araujo has been granted, and now Christensen’s knee injury.
Christensen picked up that injury in his left knee in a training session before the game against Villarreal this weekend. Barca said it was the result of an “unfortunate twist” and did not specify a timeframe, but they expect him to be sidelined for around four months.
It could be a turning point in the 29-year-old’s Barca career. His contract ends in the summer and the club are yet to make any moves to extend his deal. Barca sources say that at present it is hard to envisage the former Chelsea centre-back being part of their long-term planning. He has only started one game since September, a Copa del Rey round-of-32 tie against third-tier Guadalajara.
All this means Flick has only five trusted first-team players — Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, and Alejandro Balde — to cover his back four.
Barcelona’s defence is stretched (Franco Arland/Getty Images)
What positions will they be looking at in January?
Before Christensen’s injury, Barcelona’s plan was not to sign anyone in January and focus all their efforts on improving their squad in the summer.
But Christensen’s expected four-month lay-off changes things. La Liga rules dictate that clubs can replace an injured player’s registration on their wage bill with that of a new player, as long as their salary counts for less than 80 per cent of the injured player’s. To qualify for this, the injury has to be deemed a long-term one. This has to be decided by La Liga’s independent medical panel.
Flick was asked on Sunday if he planned to use Christensen’s injury to bolster the squad and said: “I don’t know now, I need to speak with (sporting director) Deco tomorrow morning.”
Fellow centre-back Araujo remains unavailable after being granted indefinite leave by Barca. Club sources say that if the Uruguay international’s absence is prolonged into the next few weeks, it could also affect their January plans.
Which players do they want?
Barcelona were already monitoring multiple profiles, although they were seen as summer targets rather than options in January.
They are one of the clubs keeping close tabs on Marc Guehi with an eye on the summer. Club sources say they are monitoring Crystal Palace’s 25-year-old England international. They said the prospect of signing him on a free transfer could be appealing given Barca’s precarious finances, but there is still a long way to go.
Barcelona are keeping close tabs on Marc Guehi (Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Borussia Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck is another name that has been widely reported in local media. The situation with the 26-year-old Germany international could be more complex because, even if he does not extend his contract at Dortmund and enters the last 18 months of his deal in January, his signing would command a significant fee.
Barca will be in the market for a new striker in the summer, too. Atletico Madrid’s Argentina international Julian Alvarez is the board’s dream signing to replace Robert Lewandowski. The figures required for any deal are seen as prohibitive, however.
Senior executives have also mentioned the name of Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong as a player they are monitoring. The 22-year-old Cameroon striker has scored six goals in 15 games in La Liga this season.
Who will they be looking to sell?
The first name that comes to mind is club captain and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. He is the only player in the team that Barcelona would like to move on, although it is a very complex situation.
The club signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia for €25million ($28.6m; £21.1m) from local rivals Espanyol in the summer, and he is tipped to be Barca No 1 for the next generation. Flick has said in recent weeks, after Ter Stegen’s return from injury, that the 24-year-old Garcia remains his first choice and that this won’t change.
But Ter Stegen has a long-term contract until 2028 and has shown no intention of wanting a move. The 33-year-old Germany international previously made clear he wants to fight for his place in the team, even if Garcia remains ahead of him in the pecking order.
Joan Garcia has firmly established himself as Barcelona’s No 1 (Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
There is also an awareness that big clubs are rarely looking for a new starting goalkeeper in the January window, especially not one on the kind of wages Ter Stegen is on at Barca.
His current deal, which was signed in 2023, includes salary deferrals he agreed to help Barca’s finances. He is due a significant chunk of these over the next two seasons.
Will anyone move out on loan?
Ter Stegen falls into this category, too, as Barcelona are keen to offload him in any way. But if there was a club that appealed to Ter Stegen, it is highly likely the Catalans would have to pay a significant share of his wages.
Do they need to sell to buy?
It would certainly help.
In various meetings Barcelona officials have held with agents across the industry, it has been highlighted that the club are short of cash to spend next month. The difficulties they have experienced with La Liga’s salary limit are still very present, too.
What is their position with La Liga’s salary limit?
Barcelona are still spending above the cap set by La Liga.
Their latest salary limit figure, revealed in September, was €351million. Last season, they spent €534m on wages, according to the club’s published budget. They will need to offload salaries before being allowed to register new ones.
This is a key reason they cannot sign new players in January by normal means — they would have a tough job registering them. As mentioned above, the Christensen injury may lend them a hand.
What sort of budget do they have?
A very limited one. Barca’s plan is to spend nothing next month and will only do so in case of emergency.
If they don’t make any signings, will they be able to achieve their goals this season?
Barcelona are improving as the season progresses. Flick’s squad were impacted by injuries at the start of the campaign, especially to key players Raphinha, Lamine Yamal and Pedri. The input from those returning players, along with Flick’s new defensive setup featuring Martin and Cubarsi as centre-backs with Eric Garcia in holding midfield, has led to better results.
They are in a strong position to win La Liga, four points ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid, but it is hard to make the case for them being one of the top four teams in Europe right now. As much as winning the league title is a priority, their biggest dream is to win the Champions League.
Flick will try to work his magic to get a talented squad performing as well as they can, but looking at the starting line-up, it is clear they need improvements sooner rather than later — especially in defence.
