Barcelona’s transfer plans for January hinge on this one player – report | OneFootball

Barcelona’s defensive woes have been compounded further recently thanks to Andreas Christensen’s fresh injury, which may rule him out of action for the remainder of the season.

While La Liga regulations allow Barcelona to sign a new defender in January without worrying too much about the salary cap, the club remain unsure about their transfer policy.

Christensen’s absence will serve as a major blow as it will effectively leave Hansi Flick with limited options at the back. But the club appear reluctant to sign a new player in January.

All eyes on Ronald Araujo

A recent report from SPORT has offered more perspective on Barcelona’s transfer policy heading into the January transfer window.

The report suggests that whether or not Barcelona will sign a new defender depends entirely on Ronald Araujo and how soon he can reintegrate himself into the setup.

The Uruguayan international has been out of action after making a silly error against Chelsea, not due to an injury but due to mental well-being. He has been on a spiritual journey and is expected to come back in time for the Catalan derby.

As things stand, they consider the Uruguayan international as a ‘signing’ for January, with plans to reintegrate him into the squad again once training resumes after the mid-season break.

Barcelona are eagerly waiting for Araujo’s return. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

From thereon, the coaching staff will assess his condition and manage his reintegration, depending on his fitness and mental health.

Barça are hopeful Araujo will return with a fresh mindset and can start contributing immediately to the team.

The player, for his part, feels ready to make a comeback, while the squad is also eager to see the captain return.

As someone who is capable of operating both as a right-back and as a centre-back, Barça consider Araujo’s presence vital to the club’s operations during the second half of the campaign.

The presence of a fit and mentally prepared Araujo, therefore, could nullify the requirement for a new face in defence.

Not to mention, the Uruguayan international is a key presence in the dressing room as well, which is why Barcelona are highly anticipating his return to the camp.