5 players Barcelona should target in the January transfer window

Barcelona have had a tough start to the season and need reinforcements in January. Ronald Koeman may not be at the club till that transfer window. But Joan Laporta needs to get players, as the current Barcelona squad is not good enough to win trophies.

Considering their financial woes, Barcelona may not be able to spend big. They will have to target players on loan or at a cut-price to balance their books while also making the roster more competitive.

On that note, here are five players Barcelona should target in January:

#5 Lorenzo Insigne

Lorenzo Insigne is heading towards the end of his contract, so Barcelona need to act quickly. The Napoli star has less than a year left on his deal, and would be a perfect signing for the Blaugrana.

Barcelona need pace and experience in attack, and Lorenzo Insigne would provide both. Ansu Fati and Memphis Depay are good, but they may not be able to shoulder the attacking burden alone.

The Barcelona duo needs help, and Lorenzo Insigne could do just that. Insigne's arrival would free up Memphis Depay to play centrally. That would bench Luuk De Jong, who has not been anywhere near good for Barcelona. Speaking about his contract situation, Insigne said:

“I only think about playing and about the pitch. My agent takes care of the other issues. I always put the team before myself. I always work hard, and I always arrive with a smile. I’m not thinking about the contract. There’s time to discuss that with the club. My agent will take care of it with the club. I still have one year.”

#4 Niklas Sule

FC Bayern München vs Dinamo Kiev: Group E - UEFA Champions League

The signing of Eric Garcia has not been as effective as Barcelona would have wanted to. So they need to recruit a defender in January. Niklas Süle is heading towards the end of his contract, and could be available for a cut-price.

Bayer Munich usually do not let their players walk away for free. However, Sule is not close to penning a new deal at the Bundesliga side, so Barcelona need to take advantage of that.

The signing of Sule would bring in experience at the back, and also help Eric Garcia take a bit of time before taking over from Gerard Pique.

#3 Matthias Ginter

FC Augsburg vs Borussia Mönchengladbach - Bundesliga

Barcelona could also target Matthias Ginter, another German defender who will be out of contract soon. The Borussia Mönchengladbach star is underrated, but is versatile enough to play across the backline.

Matthias Ginter is in the final stretch of his contract, and has not agreed a new deal with the Bundesliga side. He is just 27, could be the one to turn things around for Barcelona this season.

Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have been linked with a move for Matthias Ginter next summer. With the aforementioned clubs looking to snap up Ginter on a free transfer, Barcelona need to swoop in for him in January and get him for a cut-price.

#2 Jeremie Boga

Chelsea academy product, Jeremie Boga, has been doing well in Serie A. He has been a target for several clubs in France and England, including Chelsea. However, no one has managed to agree a deal for him with Sassuolo, and he is still at the Italian club.

Reports in the summer suggested that Sassuolo were looking for just €20 million for the forward. That is something Barcelona should easily manage. Jeremie Boga is yet to pen a new deal, and with his contract expiring soon, Barcelona have the upper hand, and could reduce his asking price significantly.

The Blaugrana need a player like Boga to help Ansu Fati, given Ousmane Dembele's injury history, it would be ideal for them to sign the former Chelsea man as Dembele's replacement.

Reports suggest West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace remain keen on Boga, while there is interest from Napoli, Atalanta and Lyon too.

#1 Andrea Belotti

Barcelona have made three big mistakes in the last year. And that is letting go of their three best goal scorers - Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. They are now stuck with players who lack the same finishing ability as the trio's.

Luuk de Jong is nowhere close to the level Barcelona demands from their centre-forward. So signing another striker would be the best thing to do. Andrea Belotti is a good short-term solution, as he'll look for a new club next summer.

The Torino star is a target of Juventus, Inter Milan and other Italian clubs, as he still offers a lot up front. Barcelona need to make a bid for him, as they need a player like him in their struggling team.