Riqui Puig and Carles Aleña allowed to leave on loan in January

Barcelona's managing committee have made it clear: there must be sales in January if coach Ronald Koeman wants to add to his squad. 

Barça's sporting directorate are working on moving on various players that are in not in the Dutch coach's plans, including academy graduates Carles Aleña and Riqui Puig. However, neither would leave the club permanently, only on loan. 

Koeman doesn't count on them at the moment because he feels his squad is well covered in midfield and he wants them to continue their development away from Camp Nou, where they will be afforded more minutes. 

AleÑA

Aleña's situation could be cleared up quickly. The midfielder knows he won't get many minutes at Barça, as was the case under Ernesto Valverde last season, and is tired of waiting for his chance. 

Per his contract, he can make his own decision in January and will prioritise a loan move to a Spanish team again, even though there is interest from abroad. Getafe wanted him in the summer but Barça wanted to keep him at that point. 

Riqui Puig

Riqui's situation may not be as easily resolved. Koeman met with him in the summer and told him he would not play very often and would be better served to go on loan to play regularly. 

The midfielder listened to Koeman but still wanted to stay, convinced that he will grow more at Barça than any other team in Europe, even if he's not playing. 

With the January transfer window close, Puig has now seen what not playing is like. He's played just three minutes this season in all competitions. Koeman will speak with him again. 

In Portugal, sides like Benfica and Porto are keen on hin, but there have been no talks because the player and his representatives are not listening to offers yet.