Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours Surrounding Camp Nou Giants

Transfer news at Camp Nou headquarters has been somewhat limited to outgoings as of late due to Barcelona's 2015 transfer ban, but the speculation is still flowing in Catalan country.

Latest rumours insist the club will look to conclude one move that would go down as arguably the biggest in football history were it to come about, although some understandably see the switch as impossible.

Read on for a more detailed look at which unlikely target the Blaugrana are hoping to acquire, along with updates on which current Barca stars could be heading for the club exit next year.

Gerard Pique

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Reports continue to suggest a drop in playing time for Gerard Pique could lead to a second club departure for the centre-back, who has struggled to figure as prominently under Luis Enrique of late.

Bruce Archer of the Express writes that Manchester United and Chelsea are the two suitors most interested in conducting a January move for the defender. However, Pique is quoted in the report as telling Movistar TV:

"I think not to play two or three matches (and then leave) would not be consistent. Barcelona is my life and I do not plan to leave. I will continue to fight for a place."

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Pique hasn't played for Barca since featuring in the 3-1 El Clasico defeat against Real Madrid last month, with Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu taking precedence at centre-back.

One area in which Pique does continue to impress comes with his aerial prowess, as shown in these statistics provided by Barcastuff:

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Best aerial duels winning rate this season: Bartra 68% - Pique 62 - S.Roberto 58 - Mathieu 56 - Mascherano 53 #fcblive [via @barca19stats]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) November 15, 2014"

It remains clear that Pique wishes to prolong his stay at his boyhood club, but if starting opportunities continue to whither, he could find his priorities change in 2015.

Should that be the case, there remains a host of European giants only too happy to raise interest in his availability.

Dani Alves

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Another figure at the Camp Nou whose importance to the club has altered in recent months, Dani Alves continues to attract mass interest on foreign borders, with Juventus the latest side linked with his name.

According to Jamie Anderson of the Express, the Italian giants are hoping to seal the right-back's signature when his contract expires next summer, but Manchester United and Arsenal will provide stiff competition.

The report alleges that Juve's current starting right-back, Stephan Lichtsteiner, is stalling on a new deal in Turin, and should the Swiss international not extend his deal, Alves is thought to be seen as the ideal replacement.

David Ramos/Getty Images

An attacking wing-back figure of similar priorities, the Brazilian would offer Massimiliano Allegri a simple transition in the role, but it's possible wages could be an issue for the Italian titans.

Having signed supposed replacement Douglas from Sao Paulo over the summer, Barca appear to already have their successor in place. It now only seems a matter of who wins the race for Alves' talents in 2015.

Cristiano Ronaldo

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The groundbreaking move spoken of earlier alluded to none other than that of Barcelona's alleged interest in Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Spanish newspaper AS earlier this week cited a story in El Larguero (h/t Daily Star's Rhys Turrell) claiming that Blaugrana presidential candidate Joan Laporta has met with Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes.

However, former Barca great Johan Cruyff isn't buying into the rumours, with Laporta also said to be interested in bringing Jose Mourinho to the club as manager. Cruyff is quoted by Goal.com's Tom Webber as saying:

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I don't think there's much to them, they're just idle comments. When you talk about something you know nothing about, you end up kicking up a storm for no reason. Sport is a game which holds many possibilities, but in this case they are unlikely to be feasible. I don't imagine that Laporta would bring in Mou and Cristiano.

"

It would be a move to shake La Liga to the core should it come about, not least of which thanks to the heated rivalry between Barca and Real, but also in relation to the mechanics required in order to sanction such a deal.

Former Brazil star Ronaldo and Luis Figo are examples of some players to have represented both sides of El Clasico in the past, but in the modern game, there is no Los Merengues figure more iconic than Cristiano Ronaldo.

Football remains an arena where one can never say "never," but to imagine such a deal coming to fruition verges close to the impossible.