The Spanish newspaper "Sport" reported that Barcelona's sporting management has taken a clear stance regarding strengthening the defense line during the winter transfer window. They are focusing on players available for six-month loans, even without a purchase option, and have refused to pay any fees for players whose contracts expire next June, unless the original club allows the player to leave for free.

This decision aligns with the philosophy Juan Laporta followed before assuming the club presidency. He refused to sign Eric Garcia from Manchester City in January 2020, despite the English club being willing to let the player go for a small fee, choosing instead to wait until the following summer to sign him on a free transfer. This reflects the club's commitment to managing financial resources wisely.

Current priorities include studying players who can be signed on loan, such as Nathan Aké from Manchester City, with an emphasis on not rushing any decisions and carefully monitoring the market during the final days of the transfer window.

Among the players who might be available for transfer for a fee, but Barcelona is not currently planning to make a move, are Konaté from Liverpool, Upamecano from Bayern Munich, Guehi from Crystal Palace, and Sensi from Bournemouth. The club is evaluating each case based on its importance and the willingness of the original club to let the player leave.

Barcelona is also continuing to monitor the market, focusing on bringing back Araujo and carefully considering all options to ensure the best decision is made to strengthen the defense in January, while maintaining the team's financial flexibility.