Thiago Alcantara, Giovani Lo Celso and the six options cash-strapped Barcelona have to replace Gavi with key midfielder ruled out for the season with ACL injury

There is a sense that Thiago's Barcelona story is unfinished. The Catalan midfielder was never quite a regular at Camp Nou (how could he be behind Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets?) and his Bayern Munich move in 2013 made sense — not least because former boss Pep Guardiola insisted on signing him. But it's fair to reflect that the Barca crowd never saw the best of one of the past decade's most elegant footballers.

Thiago's time at Liverpool has admittedly been mixed. The midfielder has been masterful for spells, and was instrumental in the Reds' quadruple pursuit in 2022. Since then, though, he has struggled to stay fit, and with Jurgen Klopp investing heavily in midfield during the summer, Thiago seems set to be on the outside looking in for the months ahead. Add that his contract expires in June, and everything points towards an Anfield exit in 2024.

Whether Liverpool cash in or not remains to be seen, but he would certainly be a plug-and-play option in Catalunya. And according to Sport, he is a priority target.

It is no secret that Xavi wanted to sign Tottenham midfielder Lo Celsothis summer, but a move never materialised, with the Blaugrana instead opting to bring in Oriol Romeu, Joao Felix and Ilkay Gundogan as various options for the middle of the park.

Those links have swiftly re-emerged, though, and it's a move that would make a lot of sense. Lo Celso knows La Liga well, having played for Real Betis and Villarreal. He can also offer the kind of creative production that Gavi had started to offer this season. And although he doesn't run like Gavi, Lo Celso can certainly cover enough ground to work in this system.

Given his limited role for Ange Postecoglu at Spurs — the Argentine has just made three Premier League appearances this season — he could be available on loan. However, Spurs have been hit with an injury crisis of their own, and will now need back-up in central areas having lost James Maddison for a few months. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr will also likely be playing at the Africa Cup of Nations in January, leaving the north Londonders paper-thin in the middle. A temporary deal might not be so easy, then.

Rodriguez has been a long-term target for Barcelona, but as a replacement for Gavi, he's something of an imperfect fit. Barca need versatility if they are going to dip into the transfer market, and most of Rodriguez's games for Betis have come as a No.6. Theoretically, he's more of an alternative to Romeu than anything else.

But there is an argument to be made that a quality player can produce anywhere. Rodriguez is certainly better than Romeu, and could free up Gundogan to play in Gavi's role. Shuffle the pieces around, and he could be a different kind of player who can solve the same problem.

There's also a financial obstacle here. Rodriguez is a valuable commodity for Betis, and they likely will not be willing to part with a key player at a cut price — and certainly won't let him go on loan. He is undoubtedly a top-tier midfielder, and a player any club would like to have. But consider him an outside option — for now at least.

He's not always the most eye-catching, but Jorginho is a reliable central midfielder with top-tier experience who could certainly offer a lot for the Blaugrana. He is, in many ways, the opposite of Gavi. The teenager is a buzzing pest, while Jorginho prefers to float around, analysing angles and threading his way through gaps. He is at his worst when asked to run.

But he could also be an excellent value-for-money signing, who can fill multiple holes in the Barca midfield. Ask him to slot into either of the deeper-lying roles in a box midfield, and he can thrive. His vision, technique, and creativity in the final third could be vital, especially against La Liga sides that will opt to sit deep against Xavi's men.

The Barca boss has reportedly been interested in securing the Italy international's signature before; now might be the time to get it done.

Gueye hasn't quite hit the heights of old during his second spell at Everton, but the versatile midfielder can certainly be of value in the engine room for pretty much any side. Capable of playing as a No.6 and a No.8, Gueye has the experience, smarts and stamina to serve as an able body for Xavi's side.

There is reason to believe that he could leave Merseyside, too. He flirted with a Saudi Pro League move this summer, and though he eventually stayed with the Toffees, there's enough room to suggest that a move to Spain could be of interest.

Everton might be a tricky business partner at the moment, though. The Toffees have been hit with a 10-point deduction for Financial Fair Play breaches and could find themselves in a potential relegation scrap if a few results don't go their way. They may not be willing to part with a starter if things get grim for Sean Dyche's side.

Xavi is fortunate that he has plenty of squad depth to work with. For the manager, it often means benching one or two players who would perhaps feel that they are good enough to break the starting XI. In this case, though, his depth might just be enough to ensure that the loss of one of their star men isn't felt too badly.

Although injuries have ravaged the Blaugrana, there are still plenty of options in the Catalan engine room. Gundogan, Fermin Lopez, or even Felix can operate in Gavi's advanced midfield role, while Frenkie de Jong, when fit, can play into the deeper-lying spot Gavi has been occupying for the past month.

Beyond that, there is enough talent in La Masia to fill up valuable minutes when the big guns need a rest. Marc Casado has been on the fringes of the first team for some time now, while the highly-rated Aleix Garrido is also waiting for is name to be called. If a January signing is off the table, Xavi might be able to pluck someone from his own ranks, and perhaps that will be the most prudent move.