According to Sport, Barcelona are ready to ship Carles Alena out on loan in the upcoming January transfer window. They are reportedly keen on giving the young Spaniard some much-needed game-time by loaning him out elsewhere till the rest of the season.
This could be an excellent opportunity for Tottenham Hotspur to make a move for Alena, even though they might face stiff competition from Real Betis, Getafe, Celta Vigo and Granada in the pursuit of the Barcelona midfielder.
Alena’s struggles at Barcelona
Alena was regarded as one of the most talented youngsters to graduate from La Masia academy in recent years. He has been a part of the Barcelona senior side since December of last year, after initially making a mark at Barcelona B.
However, the presence of world-class individuals like Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets and Arthur Melo meant Alena found himself way behind the pecking order. He was confined to only 631 minutes of league football the previous campaign. It has been pretty much the same story this season, especially with Barcelona signing Frenkie de Jong.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Alena has made only one league appearance so far. So a move away from Nou Camp does make sense for the youngster as he seeks more game-time.
Why Tottenham must make a move for Alena
Tottenham could be an ideal suitor for Alena given their problems in central midfield this season. Despite signing Tanguy Ndombele and Giovani Lo Celso (on loan) in the summer, the Lilywhites have lacked stability in the middle of the park.
Both Ndombele and Lo Celso have struggled with injuries while Eric Dier hasn’t even been able to start ahead of Harry Winks, who, in turn, has failed to show up against quality teams. As a result, Tottenham have succumbed to defeat in crucial matches throughout the season so far.
The addition of Alena, in that regard, could serve as a breath of fresh air not just for Mauricio Pochettino but also for the Tottenham fans. The young Spaniard can be utilised as an alternative for Winks. In fact, the 21-year-old can even be considered as a replacement for Christian Eriksen, who has been linked with a move away from north London, in the number ten slot.
Alena’s immense technical prowess coupled with his composure and ability to rotate possession means Tottenham will be less vulnerable during possession phases. It also means he can potentially combine well with the likes of Son Heung-Min, Erik Lamela and Harry Kane in the attack, provided he gets deployed as a number ten.
Moreover, if Alena succeeds in the Premier League, it would likely be easier for Spurs to sign the Spaniard permanently given Barcelona’s stacked midfield department. They may, however, have to flush out a considerable amount of cash.
