da gbg bet： The Blaugrana will welcome Vitor Roque to Catalunya this winter, but they need other reinforcements, especially in midfield

da dobrowin： Barcelona need to upgrade. They always seem to, these days. For all of the talk of the financial mismanagement at the top of the club, the Blaugrana haven't recruited badly in recent years. Robert Lewandowski, although not his former self, fired them to a league title. Jules Kounde, although flawed, has proved himself at two defensive positions. Ilkay Gundogan, on a free transfer, seems an excellent piece of business.

But there have also been some misses in the transfer market — especially last summer. Oriol Romeu was a confusing addition as a replacement for Sergio Busquets, while Joao Felix has been the mercurial, often ineffective presence, that fans of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid previously came to know.

Heading into the upcoming January transfer window, the Blaugrana do have a real need. A season-ending ACL rupture sustained by Gavi in November leaves them without a key piece in midfield, while fitness issues for other players in the centre of the park have only heightened their struggles. Barca have acknowledged as much, with club president Joan Laporta having claimed that his team are in the market for a central midfielder on loan.

So while teenage Brazilian striker Vitor Roque will arrive to bolster the attacking ranks, GOAL takes a look at the midfielders Barca could sign this winter…

Getty ImagesGiovani Lo Celso (Tottenham)

Xavi has long been an admirer of Lo Celso, and it's easy to see why. The Argentine is a player with enough creativity and tactical nous to play 'the Barca way', but also possesses the kind of nasty streak that Gavi brought to the side.

Three months ago, this would have been an easy-to-sort no-brainer. James Maddison was tearing up the Premier League for Spurs, while Lo Celso was firmly out of the picture for Ange Postecoglou in north London. But things haven't quite continued that way. Maddison suffered a long-term injury in November, and will be out until at least January. Lo Celso has stepped in, and offered a handful of promising performances in central midfield.

For Xavi, it's either a sign that Lo Celso is fit, firing, and ready to succeed. Or, potentially worse, he has made himself indispensable for Postecoglou. Still, a bid will be worth making.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMarco Verratti (Al-Arabi)

Depending on who you believe, Verratti's departure from Paris Saint-Germain was either due to the club showing him disrespect or Luis Enrique just believing he was no longer good enough for the highest level. Either way, he now finds himself playing at an admittedly low level in Qatar.

His team, Al-Arabi, are a distinctly mid-table unit, and there has been some talk that Verratti could move on loan this winter. There has been some mutual interest between Verratti and Barca before, with the Italian midfielder coming close to a permanent deal in 2017.

That was six years ago, and came with a chance to play alongside Lionel Messi. It's hard to imagine that this Barca team are as enticing to play for. Still, this could be Verratti's window back into European football, and a change for the Blaugrana to pick up a formerly world-class midfielder on the cheap.

GettyAdrien Rabiot (Juventus)

Rabiot gets an unnecessary amount of stick as a footballer, mostly because he doesn't really excel in one specific area. He's a solid passer, decent tackler, and handly dribbler who doesn't offer much of a goal threat.

But that makes him exactly the kind of player Barca need. Rabiot is an upper-mid-level player with international experience, winning pedigree, and the kind of attitude that will help steady the ship in central midfield.

Xavi would certainly like the fit here. Rabiot is a good plug-and-play option, who can be used as a No.8 on either side, and even as a pivot in a pinch — ideally against teams that tend to sit back. And Juventus, financial crisis and all, are reportedly desperate to get players off the books — even on loan. Furthermore, it has been reported that he could be allowed to leave. Sexy? No. Workable? Absolutely.

GettyArthur Vermeeren (Royal Antwerp)

Vermeeren is a player Barca are familiar with. They faced the promising midfielder twice in the Champions League group stage, and he clearly caught the eye, with Xavi's side mixing it with Arsenal and West Ham in the running for the promising Belgian's signature.

But Barca have a more pressing need for a player of his type. Arsenal's midfield is settled this season, with Declan Rice, Martin Odeegard, and Kai Havertz forming an impactful trio. The same can be said for the Hammers, who have found continuity in Tomas Soucek, Edson Alvarez, and James Ward-Prowse.

Xavi's midfield, meanwhile, is a scrambled thing, desperate for an immediate contributor. That might hold enough sway for a teenage midfielder who wants — and perhaps needs — to play first-team football right away when he eventually arrives into one of Europe's 'Big Five' leagues.