Transfer Centre

Sunday's Barcelona transfer talk news roundup: Ousmane Dembele, Eric Garcia, Jadon Sancho

By Andy Brent, Reporter | 31 January 2021

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer talk for Barcelona on Sunday, January 31.

The January transfer window is now open, with Barcelona continuing to be linked with a host of big names.

The future of Lionel Messi continues to dominate after he failed to engineer an exit in the summer, but the cash-strapped Spanish giants are understood to be considering reinforcements too following a poor first half of the season.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest transfer news from the Camp Nou.

Sunday morning's Barcelona transfer talk news roundup:

Ronald Koeman confirms Eric Garcia will join Barcelona

Manchester City defender Eric Garcia pictured in October 2020

Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman has revealed that the Catalan giants will sign Eric Garcia this summer if they are unable to complete a deal during the January transfer window.

The centre-back's contract at Manchester City is due to expire at the end of June, and he has been strongly linked with a return to Camp Nou over the last few months.

Barca face a race against the clock to secure a deal for the 20-year-old before the January transfer window closes for business, but Koeman has confirmed that the Spain international will be returning in 2021, even if the club have to wait until the end of the campaign.

"We already know he (Garcia) will probably arrive in the summer. If it's not possible this January, then we'll accept it and move on," Koeman told reporters.

Garcia initially left Barca for the Etihad Stadium in 2017 and has made 31 appearances for the Citizens, including eight outings in all competitions during the 2020-21 campaign.

The Spaniard has also recently been linked with a move to Arsenal.

Man United 'will target Ousmane Dembele if Jadon Sancho bid fails'

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele pictured in September 2020

Manchester United will reportedly attempt to sign Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona if the club again fail to complete a move for Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.

The Red Devils were strongly linked with Sancho during last summer's transfer window but were unable to come to an agreement with BVB, who are believed to have refused to drop their £108m asking price.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were also said to be exploring a loan deal for Dembele, but the transfer window closed with the France international still at Camp Nou.

According to Bild journalist Christian Falk, the 20-time English champions are still interested in the World Cup winner and could make a bid if they fail to secure a deal for Sancho.

Dembele has been a regular for Ronald Koeman's side during the current season, making 21 appearances in all competitions, contributing six goals and three assists in the process.

Sancho, meanwhile, has only scored twice in the Bundesliga this term, but the England international has managed six goals and 13 assists in 23 outings in total.

United have recently signed two right-sided attackers in the shape of Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo, but the pair are seen as players for the future, with the former heading out on loan and the latter set to feature for the club's Under-23s side on Saturday.