Quique Setién warning Barcelona that the squad isn’t strong enough - report

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Barça want to sign but need approval first

FC Barcelona manager Quique Setién is said to be privately warning Barcelona that his squad is not strong enough to mount title challenges across two competitions.

A new report says Setién has told technical secretary Éric Abidal that the squad he currently has will not be enough.

Barcelona are said to be looking at various options to reinforce the team after not doing so in the winter transfer window. Things changed after Ousmane Dembélé suffered a relapse to his injury, one that will keep him away for six months. Now, they are hoping La Liga and the Spanish Federation accept their plan to sign a player outside the transfer window.

Rules state that you are allowed to sign one player as a replacement for someone out for five months or more. This player can only be from the Spanish system (La Liga or lower leagues) and can only play domestic competitions. Both the league and the federation will review Dembélé’s case and rule if it is acceptable.

Willian José, Ángel Rodríguez, Lucas Pérez, and Loren Morón are said to be under consideration for the spot. However, Barcelona does not have a lot of money allocated for this signing - only 12 million euro per reports.

Barcelona’s president, Josep Maria Bartomeu, is reportedly telling his staff to speed up a signing as soon as possible.

Source: barcablaugranes.com