Aleix Vidal’s horror injury against Deportivo Alaves has ruled him out for the rest of the season. However, according to Article 124.3 of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) guidelines, Barcelona can sign a free agent or a player from La Liga outside the transfer window, provided that Vidal is left out of the squad for the rest of the season.
Luis Enrique has already confirmed that Barcelona are in the transfer market, saying “Aleix is a player who we are going to miss considerably because we don’t have the biggest of squads. It [A new signing] is an option we are considering and we will see if we can find someone that suits us.”
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The replacement cannot play for Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, although that could be moot following Barcelona’s 4-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg.
Here are 10 replacements for Aleix Vidal that Barcelona can sign:
#1 Martin Caceres – Free Agent
Probably the best option for Barcelona at the moment – Martin Caceres already has played for Barcelona, signing for the Catalans in 2008. He moved on to Juventus, with the Old Lady releasing the Uruguayan from his contract last summer. Caceres has had recurring knee injuries though, and while he would represent an experienced stop gap signing, Barcelona ought to be cautious.
#2 Maicon – Free Agent
Another Serie A outcast, Maicon would probably not be the ideal signing for Barcelona. The fullback barely made the Roma squad last year amidst allegations of being overweight, and was released from his contract last summer. At the age of 35, Maicon does not have much football left in him, although he does have Champions League pedigree.
#3 Jose Bosingwa – Free Agent
The former Chelsea fullback looked distinctly mediocre at Queens Park Rangers and Trabzonspor, before being released by the Turkish club at the end of the 2015/16 season. The 34 year old is without a club at the moment, and could suit Barcelona’s need for an attacking fullback down the right wing.
#4 Jonny Castro – Celta Vigo
If Barcelona are rather canny with their transfer policy, Jonny Castro would represent the best balance of quality and value. In addition, Luis Enrique is intimately familiar with Jonny’s style of play, having made him an integral part of Celta Vigo’s team in the 2013/14 season, where Jonny made 26 appearances under the current Barcelona boss.
Celta would ask about €10 million for the 22-year-old, who has also starred for the U-21 Spanish national sides, providing competition to Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin. There are not many young defenders who already have racked up 135 appearances in La Liga, so Jonny could definitely not be described as inexperienced.
Jonny’s buccaneering runs down the right wing have become a Celta trademark, something he could easily transfer to Barcelona. He also is no mug when it comes to defending, and could also be a long-term solution for Barcelona, not just a stop gap signing.
#5 Ander Capa – Eibar
Rumours have already emerged that Barcelona have been rebuffed in their bid to bring Ander Capa to the Nou Camp. The defending Liga champions want Capa on loan, which is perhaps why Eibar have rejected Barcelona’s attempts. The La Liga minnows are holding out for a permanent transfer in the range of €10-15 million, so as to improve their sqaud overall and cash in on Barcelona’s need.
Aged 25, Capa has been impressive in games against the La Liga elite, putting in competent performances against Real Madrid and Barcelona this season. The fullback has made 143 appearances for Eibar ever since coming up from the youth team, and would represent a clever short-term signing for Barcelona.
Signing Capa outright would represent a bad piece of business in the long term though, as he lacks the potential that other candidates in this list do. Plenty of Premier League sides have made offers for the Spaniard, which Eibar could use to drive his price way up.
Squad Replacements
#6 Douglas – Loan Recall
Perhaps the most unlikeliest transfer of all the options in this list – Douglas already spent two years at Barcelona before being farmed out on loan at Sporting Gijon this season. Barcelona would have to pay Gijon a penalty is they recall the right-back now, which is an unlikely situation since he is also nursing a minor injury.
#7 Nili Perdomo – Barcelona B
Perdomo travelled with the Barcelona squad to face Paris Saint-Germain, which gives us an inkling to the path Luis Enrique might take is his transfer options do not work out. Perdomo has already appeared for the senior team and is well versed in Barcelona’s style of play.
#8 Sergi Palencia – Barcelona B
Sergi Palencia is the captain of Barcelona B, and has been impressing coaches with his performances for the side. A couple of years younger to Perdomo, Palencia represents the better long term option, but Luis Enrique seems unwilling to disrupt his steady development in Barcelona B by throwing him into the cauldron of first team action.
#9 Joao Cancelo – Valencia
Valencia are holding out for a €25 million fee for Joao Cancelo, which does not exactly make him a ‘budget’ signing. However, given Cancelo’s age and potential, Barcelona could compensate by selling off one of their midfielders and restoring Sergi Roberto to the centre of the park, with Aleix Vidal recovering in time for next season.
The Portuguese full-back has made 53 appearances in La Liga since joining Valencia, with many pundits raving about his potential last season. He would represent a great long-term option for Barcelona, although Cancelo has been in somewhat poor form this season as part of a Valencia defence that has conceded 40 goals in 21 games.
Going forward, Cancelo remains an excellent option, and Barcelona can justify the extra fees they may have to pay for his services by noting that they will not have to make another signing in the same position.
#10 Mario Gaspar – Villarreal
Not many clubs can prise Mario Gaspar away from Villarreal, but Barcelona are ‘more than a club’. The 26-year-old has grown up at Villarreal, making 192 appearances for the Yellow Submarines and has made the right-back role his own.
The Spaniard is equally adept at both the defensive and offensive sides of the game, although is not perhaps at the level Barcelona need while going forward. However, Gaspar came into the limelight when scoring an overhead kick of Spain against England, a goal which was nominated for a FIFA Puskas Award.
Villarreal are unlikely to let Mario Gaspar go for cheap, and Barcelona could also look at his understudy, Antonio Rukavina as a cheap emergency option to replace Vidal.
