Barcelona ‘whack 19 stars on January transfer shortlist’ despite financial chaos

Barcelona have added 19 players to their transfer shortlist ahead of the January window opening next year – despite their financial turmoil.

The Catalan club defied their bank balance to spend more lavishly than nearly every club in Europe over the summer, splashing out on the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jules Kounde and Raphinha. The idea was the back Xavi and build a team competing for the top prizes to win back the money through success on the pitch.

However, the gamble has backfired spectacularly after failing to qualify from their Champions League group – leaving the club in further financial trouble. Nevertheless, that has done little to quell their appetite in the transfer window, it seems.

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According to Sport, Barcelona will sign at least two players when the January market opens next year while 19 have been added to the club's shortlist for Xavi's perusal. They include several Premier League stars from the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Diogo Dalot is one of the top targets but there is little chance Erik ten Hag would sanction a departure for the right-back after becoming a key part of his team. Blues duo N'Golo Kante and Jorginho are also being looked at, where both their contracts will expire in the summer.

Fabinho is also being eyed as Barca make signing a replacement for the long-serving Sergio Busquets their main aim in the transfer window. Several other Premier League stars such as Wilfried Ndidi, James Ward-Prowse and Rodri have also been identified.

After Barcelona's early exit from the Champions League, Xavi was fuming following a 3-0 defeat to Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. Xavi told reporters: "We have to face the reality. I already said that we have to grow little by little and today there were good things.

"Bayern was better. Just as we were better in Munich and we should have won, today they were better. The group was very complicated and everything happened to us in the Champions League."

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