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5 players Barcelona could sign in January

By Harry De Cosemo

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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FABINHO of Monaco during the French Ligue 1 between Saint Etienne and Monaco at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 29, 2016 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport) (Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport via Getty Images)
FABINHO of Monaco during the French Ligue 1 between Saint Etienne and Monaco at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 29, 2016 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport) (Photo by Jean Paul Thomas/Icon Sport via Getty Images) /

3. Fabinho

The final fullback of this selection, AS Monaco’s Fabinho, is perhaps the most similar in style to Alves, and not just because of his nationality.

Both offer a real threat going forward and stretch the play in such a way which is vital to the way Barcelona play, but the 23-year-old has the pace to cover and time to be moulded into a player who avoids rash decisions, which Alves was at times guilty of committing.

While the former Rio Ave man has links to Real Madrid, having been loaned there in 2013, making one appearance, which could complicate matters for some, that never stopped Samuel Eto’o from enjoying life at the club, let alone the coach, Enrique, who actually crossed the divide as a player in the 1990s.

Of the three fullback options here, Fabinho would likely need the most work, but while Monaco wouldn’t like to lose their man after fending off past interest from Manchester United, a deal could be struck, be it in January or next summer.

There is a long list of countrymen Fabinho will be keen to emulate, not just Alves, with Roberto Carlos, Cafu and Maicon also setting the bar for success in Europe. Barcelona would be the perfect platform to push on if and when he outgrows French football and this is definitely a deal worth considering.

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