Successful Barcelona Transfer Ban Appeal Could Mean Changes in January

Barcelona signed plenty of players this summer in case the appeal against their transfer ban was rejected.

However, that hasn't turned out well for them so far. There are doubts over a few of the new recruits and the team looks shaky.

Furthermore, players like Pedro, Dani Alves and Gerard Pique are linked to moves away from the club.

So, with the news that Barcelona's appeal will be heard in December, it could mean that Luis Enrique's shop is open for business come January.

Paul White/Associated Press

Per AP (h/t Yahoo), the Court of Arbitration for Sport will give a fast-track verdict.

The article stated: "Barcelona's appeal against a one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for breaking youth transfer rules will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Dec 5. CAS says it will give a fast-track verdict before the transfer window opens in January."

The Guardian's transfer rumour roundup claims Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping to pick up Alves and Pedro.

Getting the former of those players seems unlikely, largely because Enrique doesn't seem to trust any of his other options at right-back.

Douglas has appeared in just one game, and he was booked and substituted after a poor performance against Malaga. Martin Montoya also is unpopular with the coach, barely playing this season.

Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

Against Almeria last weekend, Enrique took all three defenders with him but ended up playing left-back Adriano there, out of position.

Pedro, however, could be close to a Barcelona exit. The forward is no longer first choice, with Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez forming the powerful starting trio. 

With Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez young options, it's quite conceivable that Pedro, who by now should be looking to play every week, could leave the club.

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

Pique, meanwhile, wants to hold showdown talks with Enrique when he returns from international duty, per the Mirror, (h/t Sport).

If he does leave, it will be an opportunity for Barcelona to bring in a new centre-back, something they could still use, despite signing two in the summer.

One, Jeremy Mathieu, has begun well, but he has sustained three injuries since joining.

The other, Thomas Vermaelen, has yet to feature. He was injured when Barcelona signed him and has remained that way since.

After a conversation I had with Sport sub-director Albert Masnou, it's clear that the jury is out on Ivan Rakitic, too.

The Croatian started well but his performances have tailed off in recent weeks. There are doubts over whether he is able to become the long-term successor to Xavi Hernandez in central midfield.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

They play in different ways, which is not necessarily a problem as there's nobody quite like Xavi out there.

But Rakitic often takes a lot of risks in possession, whereas Xavi would be the safest pair of hands in the team with the ball.

It would not be a great surprise if Enrique decided he had to bring in another central midfielder, with Atletico Madrid's Koke a possible option, albeit an expensive one.

Although January is not a popular time for Spanish clubs to make transfers, depending on how results in the next few weeks go and if the ban is revoked, it could be an interesting month for Barcelona.