Barcelona Transfer News: Barca target told to train with reserves, Spurs to loan Barca attacker, and more news - 18th, January 2019

Valverde will be a happy man after performances this week
Valverde will be a happy man after performances this week

Barcelona defeated Levante 3-0 in the second leg of the Copa del Rey round of 16 clash, winning 4-2 on aggregate, on Thursday night.

But there has been some controversy following the match, with Levante alleging that a Barca player should not have been on the field in the first leg.


Also See : La Liga Transfer News, Liverpool Tranfer News, Manchester united Transfer News.


That, and more Barcelona transfer news in today's Barcelona news and transfer roundup:

#1 Valverde on Levante's appeal

Barcelona won comfortably against Levante on Thursday night, with two goals from Ousmane Dembele and one from Lionel Messi sealing a 4-2 aggregate victory.

But, the victory was marred with Levante accusing Barcelona of starting 19-year-old defender Chumi in the first leg, despite the teenager being suspended following five bookings while playing for Barcelona B.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, though, seemed unconcerned about Levante's complaint:

"We have no doubt about Chumi. Not before, not after, or during. We believe that tomorrow we must be in the draw. We are sure that we did it well. We knew perfectly well that Chumi was sanctioned, he could not be used in the match against Eibar [in LaLiga]. We are convinced of what we have done. We have acted in an absolutely correct way. We have won where we had to win. It is very clear," said Valverde.

There was call for Barcelona to be expelled from the Copa del Rey competition, although it is highly unlikely that it will happen. The draw for the next round of the Copa del Rey will take place on Friday.


#2 Denis Suarez situation

Denis Suarez
Denis Suarez

One player who is certain to leave Nou Camp in the January transfer window is Denis Suarez. The midfielder has been linked with a move to Arsenal, but with the Gunners not keen on a permanent move in the January transfer window, Suarez's switch to London hasn't happened yet.

Journalist Guillem Balague revealed on Twitter the reason why the move hasn't been confirmed yet. Balague explained that the Gunners want to bring Suarez on loan for €2-3m, and sign him on a permanent deal in the summer for €20-25m, but Barcelona haven't agreed to it yet, and could possibly keep him at Nou Camp to play him in cup competitions.

#3 Rabiot to train with the reserves

Rabiot has been told to train with the PSG reserves
Rabiot has been told to train with the PSG reserves

It seems that the PSG management do not want Adrien Rabiot anywhere near the first team of the French side until he signs a new contract. Sport have reported that the President of PSG, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, does not want the Frenchman to be involved with the first team if he does not sign a contract, despite manager Thomas Tuchel having a much more lenient view on the Rabiot situation.

Alain Roche, who is a part of PSG's management, spoke about the situation: "We have seen cases like Ramsey and Herrera where despite not signing on they have continued playing, but other cases too like Barcelona, who have removed a player who is not renewing. We have the right to be intransigent. We have been criticised for allowing players to take advantage of the club. We have to show that the club is strong and maintain our posture. It's not going to cost us too much considering Rabiot doesn't have one of the highest wages in the squad."

Rabiot's contract with the Ligue 1 champions expires in the summer and it's all but certain that he will sign with Barcelona once his contract expires. PSG are reportedly demanding €15 million from any club who want to sign Rabiot in the January transfer window.

#4 Malcom inches closer to Tottenham switch

Malcom hasn't been a part of Barcelona's last two matches
Malcom hasn't been a part of Barcelona's last two matches

We could see two Barcelona players move to North London, but this time it is a move to Tottenham Hotspur. 21-year-old Malcom has had a miserable start to his Barcelona career and is set to leave the club on loan to get some game time and possibly a permanent transfer.

Spurs want to sign an attacker on loan as they will be without Harry Kane, who is out due to injury, while Son Heung-min is playing in the Asia Cup.

Spurs have reportedly spoken to Barcelona to sign Malcom on loan in the January transfer window, as per Sport. He hasn't featured in the last two games for Barcelona, against Eibar over the weekend, and Levante, on Thursday night.

There were reports that Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande made a €50 million offer for the summer signing earlier in the transfer window.

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