Barça has finally registered Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor in this winter market. Despite having regained economic stability, the club has received the provisional measure like water in the desert.
Barça Thinks about the Future
Despite the good news about Dani Olmo's registration, Barcelona has already started planning the transfer market with an eye on January and also the summer. The club has managed to restore salary normalcy after years of adjustments and cuts due to the severe economic situation it experienced in the past. That allows Barça's executives to operate with greater flexibility in the market and study possible alternatives in case they can't count on Olmo in their team.
In this regard, the club has already started exploring transfer options for January. Therefore, the board is preparing different scenarios.
Olmo's Replacement is in La Liga
The club would already be clear about who the chosen one is and it would be Álex Baena from Villarreal. According to El Nacional.cat, the young Spanish player is one of Barça's main targets to strengthen the midfield. Baena has demonstrated an outstanding level of play at Villarreal, standing out for his ability to break through, his vision of the game, and his ease in reaching the goal.
His profile is similar to Dani Olmo's, as he is a versatile player who can play both as an attacking midfielder and on the wings. Additionally, Álex Baena has a release clause of 60 million, a significant figure, but that could be accessible for Barça. Baena's transfer is emerging as one of the most viable alternatives for Flick.
Immediate Adaptation with Pedri, Gavi, and Company
Álex Baena's transfer could be an excellent decision for Barça, especially because the player wouldn't have adaptation problems with the team. As a regular player for the Spanish National Team, Baena already has experience playing alongside several Barça players, such as Pedri, Gavi, and Marc Casadó. His knowledge of the club's play style, combined with his relationship with several team members, would facilitate his integration into the locker room.
Additionally, Baena has a great understanding of Spanish soccer, which would allow him to quickly adapt to the demands of a club like Barcelona. Likewise, the Villarreal player could also perfectly complement his game with players like Lamine Yamal or Fermín López. The fact that Baena shares characteristics with Pedri or Gavi in terms of vision and mobility on the field would make his adaptation to Flick's style immediate.