Barcelona Have The Funds To Sign Premier League Star In January

Barcelona are ready to make a move for a Premier League forward in January, and despite financial problems they can reportedly afford him.

Barcelona's financial issues led to Lionel Messi having to leave the club this summer, which really shone a light on how bad things were at the Nou Camp.

Gerard Pique then had to take a wage cut in order for the club to register their summer signings in time for the start of the new La Liga season.

Despite actually being able to play those players, the season isn't exactly going well for the team, or manager Ronald Koeman, right now, especially after former striker Luis Suarez helped Atletico Madrid beat his ex team on Saturday.

However, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Catalan side, even if it's still nearly three months away, with reports of a potential January signing.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the club are eyeing a winter move for Raheem Sterling and the club could actually afford to make the move, even though their wage budget was recently cut.

Sterling has been on the bench more often than not so far this season. Image: PA Images

The club managed to sell Antoine Griezmann back to Atleti on Transfer Deadline Day in August, and needed to sign a forward to replace the forward.

Koeman wanted RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo, who played in the Euros and Olympics last summer for Spain, but couldn't make the move so late on.

Instead they had to settle for signing Luuk de Jong on loan from Sevilla, a move that was mocked by the football community, especially those who remember the Dutch striker's time at Newcastle United.

If the funds are actually available then it would certainly make sense that the club would make a move for another forward again, with a move for Olmo also on the agenda.

Olmo has also been linked with Barca. Image: PA Images

Sterling has only started two games in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola so far this season, also starting one game in the Champions League too.

He has fallen behind Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva in the pecking order, with the latter pair having great games against Liverpool at the weekend.

The England forward could consider his future at the Etihad Stadium if his prospects for being in the starting XI don't improve between now and January.

Topics: La Liga, Premier League, Manchester City, Raheem Sterling, Barcelona, Transfers

Ryan Sidle

Ryan is a journalist for SPORTbible with over eight years of experience. Passionate about all sports, he mainly covers football and F1 - Daniel Ricciardo once spent an entire interview referring to him as 'Ryan Gosling,' still his proudest moment.

@Sidler28