Flick requests Barcelona for key reinforcement in January but encounters major hurdle | OneFootball

There is concern at FC Barcelona about maintaining the team’s level until the end of the season due to the growing number of absences in the defensive line.

The absence of Ronald Araujo, due to mental health issues, had already set alarm bells ringing, and the injury to Andreas Christensen has left the defensive unit in a fragile position.

Flick wants a new defender

As such, SPORT reports that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is in favour of making a signing in central defence in January and has requested the club to explore the possibility.

However, Flick’s request has encountered some hurdles, as the club’s financial situation makes the choice extremely difficult, and at present, none of the candidates under consideration are convincing.

As such, a decision has been made to wait in the hope of finding an ideal loan option before the transfer window closes.

Flick had already wanted to strengthen the defence during the summer transfer window after the unexpected departure of Inigo Martinez. But the sporting department informed him that securing a reliable replacement would be impossible due to the salary cap.

So, the German coach settled for a group made up of Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Araujo and Christensen.

Flick wants a new defender in January. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

During pre-season, Flick tested Gerard Martin as a left-sided centre-back as a precaution, and he is now a regular starter in that role due to the circumstances.

A loan move could be explored

Christensen’s injury worsens the outlook, but it also opens the door to the possibility of signing a player, as he is expected to be out for more than four months. This would allow the club to use 80% of his salary from the time of the injury until the end of the season.

That option would make it possible to bring in a quality player on loan, although those available are either developmental bets or players who have not played many minutes this season. This is where the doubts arise.

Both Deco and Flick are clear that action will only be taken if the arrival is a player capable of competing for a starting place and improving the squad’s competitiveness.

Barcelona have received proposals from players from the Premier League, Serie A and the Bundesliga, who are willing to spend six months at the club, fully aware that they would be unlikely to stay beyond that period. But there are significant sporting doubts.

Flick believes that all cases must be studied carefully because he considers the situation to be critical, and he is clear that if no defensive reinforcement arrives, the season could be compromised.