Despite signing several new players in the summer transfer window, Barcelona are bracing themselves for a busy January ahead.
In addition to their plans to sign players, the club are expected to facilitate multiple contract operations in order to strengthen the core of the team and secure the long-term future of some of their young players.
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered a comprehensive update on Barcelona’s contract operations in January, with the club identifying three priority areas.
The first of these involves registering the new contracts of Gavi and Ronald Araujo. Both players have already signed a new deal with the club but it is yet to be reflected on La Liga’s books, meaning they are having to continue with the old terms.
Gavi, for one, had signed an extension in September, but Barcelona’s troubles with Financial Fair Play means the club cannot register his contract and hand him the number six shirt. The same applies to Araujo, who had signed a deal back in April.
Another priority for Barcelona is to hand out renewals to two more young players in the form of Inaki Pena and Alejandro Balde. The goalkeeper’s contract expires at the end of the season and Barça want to secure his long-term future at Camp Nou.
Balde, too, deserves a new contract, having enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in recent months. An agreement is believed to be close but the FFP regulations are holding up Barcelona’s plans, as the club first need to significantly reduce their expenditure and overall wage budget.
Meanwhile, the final priority for Barcelona is to work on a renewal for Marcos Alonso. Due to FFP regulations, the Spaniard was only able to sign a one-year deal at Camp Nou. But after making an impression during the first half of the campaign, the Catalans want to extend his contract.
Irrespective of whether Barça sign new players or not, these three operations are seen as priority at Spotify Camp Nou.