Six players Barcelona should consider signing in the 2024 January transfer window

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.

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.

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.

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.

Jorginho seemed a strange signing for Arsenal last January, but has since proved to be a shrewd addition to bolster things in central midfield for Mikel Arteta. However, he now finds himself falling out of the picture in north London, while a series of mistakes — including a costly one against Spurs — have hampered his season.

And with his contract due to expire this summer, Barca could have room to strike. He isn't the all-action, physical midfielder that they perhaps covet, but a tempo-setter alongside Frenkie de Jong could make for some beautiful football in the months to come. Besides, players of the Italy international's quality — and pedigree — are always handy.

Four months ago, Onana would have been a perfect addition. Everton were a mess last summer, financially hamstrung and dealing with the looming possibility of severe sanctions due to Financial Fair Play violations.

They didn't beat the case, of course, but have since turned things around on the pitch, and if the Toffees hadn't been slapped with a 10-point deduction, they would be firmly in the battle for European qualification.

Still, if a big offer comes in for Onana, it'll be interesting to see what Everton do. He has endured a mixed career on Merseyside, and is only just starting to come into his own for Sean Dyche's team.

A technically skilled dribbler, excellent ball-winner, and surprisingly creative presence, Onana ticks a lot of the boxes Barca are after. His asking price, an inflated £48 million ($61m), seems certain to be out of the Blaugrana's range. But in Laporta's lever-happy life, nothing can be ruled out...