Barça DOF Alemany working on contract renewals & January deals
It's going to be a bust mid-season transfer window at the Catalan club
At this time last year, Barcelona were in talks to renew Pedri and Ansu Fati's contracts. After January, it was the turn of Ronald Araujo and Gavi. All four have now signed long-term details at Camp Nou.
There are five players in the current squad that are out of contract at the end of the season and it seems only two have serious options to continue: Marcos Alonso and Inaki Pena. The former is valued for his versatility. If nothing strange happens, he will sign a two-year deal. The latter is also expected to continue as Marc-Andre ter Stegen's understudy, with a view to being his long-term replacement.
From there, Barça have decisions to make. Hector Bellerin, Sergi Roberto and Memphis Depay are also out of contract and their futures are in the air. Barça wanted Memphis to leave in the summer but talks with Juventus broke down. After the World Cup, there will be talks with him, but he wants more than Barça can offer.
As for Bellerin, nothing has been spoken about because he has hardly played due to an injury. A lot would have to change for him to continue.
And with Sergi Roberto, maybe, his cycle at the club is coming to an end. He renewed his contract for this season at the request of Xavi and is playing regularly, but Barça's idea is to sign a right-back and Roberto would not have a place in the XI. In this case, though, nothing has been decided.
Aside from that, Barça's director of football Mateu Alemany also wants to deal with two players that are out of contract in 2024. One of them is Alex Balde, represented by Jorge Mendes, and the other is Ousmane Dembele.
With Dembele, Barça don't want to another saga. They will offer him the chance to continue, but in the case talks don't progress, it would not be a surprise if they were obliged to listen to offers for him.
Alemany knows January will be busy, with exits needed and the idea of investing in a top-level midfielder to replace Sergio Busquets. There is money to make the investment and they hope to get the succession plan right. Some big weeks are coming up.
