Transfer Centre

Deco: 'Barcelona to consider signing replacement for Gavi'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 22 November 2023

Barcelona sporting director Deco says that his club will "evaluate" their options when it comes to bringing in a potential Gavi replacement in January.

Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that his club will "evaluate" their options when it comes to potentially signing a replacement for Gavi during the January transfer window.

Gavi suffered a serious knee injury during Spain's Euro 2024 qualification match with Georgia on Sunday, with the 19-year-old set to miss the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign.

According to the Daily Mail, Barcelona are not expected to sign a permanent replacement for the midfielder in January, but it is possible that a player could arrive on loan, with Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso viewed as a potential option.

Lo Celso has played in La Liga for both Real Betis and Villarreal, and it is thought that he could join on loan for the second half of the 2023-24 season.

Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso during the warm up before the match on July 26, 2023 © Reuters

Deco has said that his club will "evaluate" the players available and then determine whether it would be possible financially to add to their squad in January.

"A new scenario arises and we are going to evaluate it according to what we can do. We are looking at what we can do financially," Deco told EFE.

"In January, the important players play in their teams and I don't see it as easy to sign an important player who can bring us things in the winter market."

Gavi has again been an important player for Barcelona this season, making 15 appearances in all competitions, contributing two goals and one assist in the process.

The midfielder is also set to be missing for Spain's Euro 2024 campaign in a bitter blow to their chances of enjoying success in Germany next summer.

Spain's Gavi celebrates scoring against Norway on October 15, 2023 © Reuters

Barcelona's squad is set to be boosted by the imminent returns of Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto, with both players expected to be available against Rayo Vallecano this weekend following recent injuries.

Pedri is also back from a recent thigh problem, while Oriol Romeu, Ilkay Gundogan and Fermin Lopez are first-team midfield options for the reigning Spanish champions.

Barcelona are sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen ahead of the clash with Rayo, though, as the German suffered a back problem during the international break.

The Catalan outfit will take on Porto in the Champions League in their final game of November before opening next month with a home fixture against Atletico Madrid in Spain's top flight.