5 players Barcelona could sign in January

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Luis Enrique manager of Barcelona speaks during a FC Barcelona press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: Luis Enrique manager of Barcelona speaks during a FC Barcelona press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 22, 2016 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal holds off Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 06: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal holds off Vincent Janssen of Tottenham Hotspur during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on November 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

1. Hector Bellerin

Arguably the only area of the field in which Barcelona lack sufficient quality is right fullback. For seven years it was where they were safest, with the ever-consistent Dani Alves making the position his own, but the Brazilian has declined with age and left on a free transfer to join Juventus some months ago.

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Big boots had to be filled, but so far Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal are not doing so. Signing a new right back could be high on their priorities, and although they may wait until the end of the current campaign, it is a position which features heavily on this list.

Perhaps the most obvious candidate would be Hector Bellerin, given the Arsenal man’s roots. Born in Catalonia, the pacey defender left for North London at a young age and has developed into one of the finest players in his position around, despite only being 21 years old.

Rumours of a return to his hometown club are nothing new, but at every turn Bellerin himself has distanced himself from them. There is no denying, though, that he fits the bill for Barcelona, having learnt under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger, who employs very similar soccer principles to those on show at the Camp Nou.

An immediate deal looks almost impossible, but at the very least the club could enquire for the future and lay the ground work, although they may have to face competition from former boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and hefty financial demands from the Gunners.