5 Players Barcelona must target in January

After a domestic double last season, the Catalan giants are currently sitting on top of the La Liga standings. They have also qualified for the round of 16 in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League. However, Valverde & Co. aren’t playing their best football at the moment.

They have failed to win six of their 15 La Liga games this season and also conceded 19 goals. Teams like Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Alaves, Real Betis, Getafe, Girona, Valladolid, Real Sociedad, and Valencia have a better defensive record than Barcelona in La Liga this season.

Though they reinforced the squad last summer, some of their signings were a disappointment. Malcom has made just one start so far in the La Liga while Vidal has played only 483 minutes of league football.

None of their summer signings became a regular starter for the side and they had to rely on few players to deliver results. With the January transfer window opening in few weeks, Valverde would want to strengthen his squad.

On that note, let’s take a look at the 5 players Barcelona must target in January.

#5 Matthijs De Ligt

Ajax v SL Benfica - UEFA Champions League Group E

The 19-year-old Ajax center-back is one of the most sought-after defenders in European football at the moment. Having made his Ajax’s senior debut at the age of 17, De Ligt became an indispensable part of the Ajax squad during the 2017/18 campaign. He played a key role in their second-place finish in the Eredivisie last season and was solid at the back.

Youngest ever captain of a professional team in the Dutch football history, De Ligt showed a lot of maturity for a teenager. With a passing accuracy of more than 91% throughout his top-flight career, De Ligt is one of the best ball-playing defenders in Europe right now.

He is strong technically and physically, and covers his ground very quickly. He is also good in the air and improving with every game. He is already under the radar of top European clubs and Barcelona must make an effort to sign a potential future star.

#4 Frenkie de Jong

Ajax v Royal Standard de Liege - UEFA Champions League third-round qualifying match

He is one of those players who is silently climbing up the ladder in European football. A highly rated midfielder, Frenkie de Jong has been hugely impressive for Ajax over the past couple of seasons.

He was phenomenal for the Dutch national team in the UEFA Nations League as he played a crucial role in the midfield. A player with exceptional passing and dribbling abilities, de Jong is a type of player who could easily slot into Barcelona’s midfield.

He possesses good pace and his vision is too good for a 21-year-old. He averages 1.5 tackles and 1.4 key passes per game in Eredivisie this season, showing how good a player he is with various aspects of the game.

According to his father, “there’s a 95 percent chance he leaves Ajax in the summer and a move to Barcelona would be the best decision.”

#3 Richarlison

The Brazilian is one of the most exciting young forwards in Premier League this season. He caught the attention of Premier League clubs last season when he starred for Watford with five goals and four assists.

Having arrived at Goodison Park last summer for a huge fee of around £40 million, the 21-year-old has been exceptional for Marco Silva. Richarlison has played a key role for Everton so far and scored eight goals in 14 Premier League appearances.

Though he is relatively young and inexperienced for a club like Barcelona, he possesses great abilities as an attacking player. Primarily a winger, Richarlison can also play through the middle as a striker.

Pace and dribbling are his biggest strengths. With Luis Suarez not getting any younger, Barcelona should invest in a young forward and Richarlison fits the bill for the Catalan giants.

#2 Milan Skriniar

A promising and young center-back in European football at the moment, Milan Skriniar is getting a lot of attention because of his stupendous performances for Inter Milan in Serie A.

Standing at 1.87 meters, he is solid in the air and possesses great positional awareness. His passing qualities are unbelievably good for a center-back. The 23-year-old is one of the best passers in Serie A this season with a passing accuracy of 93%. His abilities with the ball at his feet rank him as one of the best ball-playing defenders in Europe.

Defensively, he is pretty composed and consistent. He does not rush into tackles and has the ability to maintain his focus under pressure. He is also good at carrying the ball forward and convert defense into attack. He is a mainstay in Inter’s back line this season and averages 2.5 tackles per game. He is a kind of player who will suit Barcelona’s style of football.

#1 Adrien Rabiot

Liverpool v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League Group C

Barcelona’s interest in the Frenchman is not a secret. The Blaugrana tried to sign him in the past, but, PSG resisted all the attempts. However, Adrien Rabiot has yet to agree on a new contract and his current one with Paris Saint-Germain runs out at the end of the 2018/19 season.

The 23-year-old has been phenomenal for PSG over the years and has played a stellar role in their Ligue 1 title wins. He is a complete midfielder who excels in both defensive and offensive aspects of the game. He averages 2.5 tackles and 1.1 dribbles per game this season in Ligue 1. His pass accuracy in French League stands at an exceptional 93.1 percent this season.

He possesses a lot of top-flight experience for a 23-year-old and is at the right age for a club like Barcelona. With Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic into their 30s, Barcelona needs to sign a player for the future and Rabiot certainly has the potential to be successful at the Camp Nou.

Edited by Abhinav Munshi