Barça is very focused on strengthening the team during this winter transfer window with the aim of providing the team with more tools to face the second half of the season. After a season start with ups and downs, the sports management has identified areas for improvement and has initiated some negotiations to bring in new players.
Among the most talked-about names is Rafa Leão, who has been linked to the club on multiple occasions. However, his signing seems almost impossible due to AC Milan's high demands, as they are not willing to facilitate his departure.
Meanwhile, the name of Marcus Rashford is strongly mentioned, as his tense relationship with his coach, Rubén Amorim, could open a door for his exit from Manchester United. The English forward could be a more accessible option for the culés, although his signing won't be easy due to the competition.
Ronald Araújo disrupts all of Barça's plans
Despite the ambitions to strengthen the attack, Barça faces an unexpected problem in defense. The possible departure of Ronald Araújo, one of the essential pillars of the defense, could disrupt all the club's plans in this market.
According to various rumors, the Uruguayan center-back is considering the possibility of leaving Camp Nou, and two elite clubs, Juventus and Arsenal, have shown interest in signing him. The situation has taken Barcelona's management by surprise, as they had not anticipated Araújo's departure at this time.
In this scenario, Barça has set a minimum price of 60 million euros (approximately 66 million dollars) to allow his departure. Juventus, for example, is attempting a loan with an option to buy, something that, for now, Barça doesn't seem willing to accept.
Flick requests to bring forward the arrival of the new signing to January
If Ronald Araújo leaves, Barcelona's priority will be to find an adequate replacement to strengthen the defense, as Cubarsí, Íñigo, and Christensen would be left alone. In this regard, Hansi Flick has requested the immediate incorporation of Jonathan Tah, a defender from Bayer Leverkusen.
The signing of the German center-back was initially planned for next summer, but Flick believes it is necessary to have him immediately to ensure the team's defensive solidity. The negotiation for Tah is quite advanced and Barça could move ahead of the initial plans, accelerating his signing in this winter market to cover the possible departure of Araújo.
With a defense further weakened by the Uruguayan's departure, Tah presents himself as the ideal solution to maintain the team's competitive level in the second half of the season.