Chelsea boss Tuchel against Werner or Ziyech January Barça moves

Barcelona are exploring different options ahead of the January transfer window in a bid to strenghten their attack for new coach Xavi Hernandez.

The Catalan club don't have much room financially due to LaLiga's spending limit, so are primarily looking at loans and low-cost options.

Two named on the table are Chelsea duo Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. Initially, there was a willingness to do a deal, but Chelsea seem to have put the brakes on any deals despite the players' desire to play more regularly.

Barça's contact has been with Chelsea executive Marina Granovskaia, who was open to talks at first. Chelsea have an overbooking in attack and it would be best to let those not playing out on loan so they don't lose value.

The English club signed Werner for 60 million and Ziyech for 40 million in 2020 but neither has featured regularly under coach Thomas Tuchel this season.

However, Ziyech has returned to prominence in recent weeks and done well when given the chance.

At first, Barça were asking about Ziyech, with Xavi keen to add width. Later they also sounded out Werner, who's more of a goal scroer.

Both have big but assumable salaries but conversations with Chelsea have cooled because Tuchel is reluctant to weaken the squad in January and against anyone leaving. The German has a lot of power at the club.

Barça have made signing Ferran Torres from Manchester City their priority. There is still a difference in valuations with City, though, with Barça not currently willing to go much higher than 40 million.

Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani is also a target, but he represents a different type of player to Torres and therefore, money aside, the two options are not exclusive.