Barcelona are trying to tighten up their scouting, starting with the January window. Catalan newspaper Sport reports that a team, headed by Deco and Bojan – both former players, are working to find the best young talent – cheaply.
Given how tight the finances are at the Camp Nou, and how that won’t change in the near future, signing the best youngsters for low prices is key. That’s not only so they can help Barcelona in the medium term, but also to enable the chance for capital gains.
Like many other clubs around world football, Barcelona want to flip players for profit. Unlike most, though, they have a name which helps attract almost anyone.
Sport use Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven as an example. Real Madrid, Barcelona and others have been credited with interest in the Dutchman, but Spurs would want a big fee.
Barcelona want to identify players like Van de Ven early
Micky van de Ven
UDINE, ITALY – AUGUST 13, 2025:
Micky van de Ven of Tottenham Hotspur looks on
during the UEFA Super Cup
Paris Saint-Germain v Tottenham Hotspur at Stadio Friuli.
Tottenham signed Van de Ven from Wolfsburg for around £40m in 2023, so he wasn’t exactly cheap. However, Sport believe Barcelona are looking further back from that and want to get players even earlier.
In 2021, the now-24-year-old moved from Volendam to Wolfsburg for around £3m. It’s at that stage Barcelona want to start talent getting in, and then presumably loan players out elsewhere.
Tottenham have another one in the works, with Luka Vušković on loan at Hamburg HSV, where he’d like to stay for another season.