Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Hansi Flick wants Eric Garcia stay, Frenkie de Jong hints at exit, and more - January 4, 2025

Barcelona travel to the Estadio Municipal to face Barbastro in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 on Saturday, January 4. The Catalans arrive at the game on a run of two back-to-back league defeats.

Meanwhile, Hansi Flick has no desire to allow Eric Garcia to leave this month. Elsewhere, Frenkie de Jong has hinted that he could be open to an exit from Camp Nou.

On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from January 4, 2025.

---

Hansi Flick wants Eric Garcia stay

Eric Garcia

Hansi Flick has expressed a desire to keep hold of Eric Garcia beyond this month. The Spanish defender has struggled for chances this season under the German manager.

Garcia has registered just 13 appearances across competitions for Barcelona this campaign, only five of which were starts. Recent reports have suggested that the Catalans are already in talks with Girona regarding a move this month.

However, speaking to the press, as cited by Barca Universal, Flick insisted that the 23-year-old will not leave in January.

“I don’t think Eric Garcia will leave in the winter. For us, he is ours and he is a good player. He is an intelligent player that can play in different positions. We are not thinking about his departure at the moment,” said Garcia.

Garcia's contract with the LaLiga giants runs until 2026.

Frenkie de Jong hints at Barcelona exit

Frenkie de Jong

Frenkie de Jong has hinted that he could be open to an exit from Barcelona. The Dutch midfielder is an enigma for the Catalans right now and recently returned from a long layoff due to an ankle injury.

However, De Jong has found chances hard to come by under Hansi Flick, registering 13 appearances, including just two starts. The situation has added to speculation regarding the player's future, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Chelsea, and Liverpool interested.

Speaking recently, as cited by The Mirror, De Jong insisted that he could leave if he felt he couldn't contribute to the LaLiga giants' cause.

“People think I want to stay at Barcelona forever because life outside of football is so good here, and that’s good, but what happens on the pitch is always more important. If I felt like I couldn’t contribute enough, or if the team wasn’t competitive, I would leave,” said De Jong.

De Jong's contract with Barcelona expires in 2026 and he hasn't signed an extension yet.

Angelo Stiller opens up on his future

Angelo Stiller

Angelo Stiller has insisted that he remains focused at VfB Stuttgart amid rumors linking him to Barcelona. The Catalans remain in the market for a long-term replacement for Sergio Busquets despite Marc Casado's brilliant form.

Recent reports have suggested that the LaLiga giants have identified Stiller as an option. The German midfielder has established himself as a key figure for club and country and could be a fine choice for the job.

However, speaking to Sport Bild as relayed by SPORT, the 23-year-old insisted that he isn't concerned about the rumors.

“Of course you hear some speculation about possible changes. Sometimes I get asked about it, even within our locker room. The issue does not concern me. It’s a bad time to worry about this. I’m at Stuttgart and that’s my only goal,” said Stiller.

Stiller has registered two goals and three assists from 25 games across competitions for VfB Stuttgart this season.