Barcelona Transfer News: Latest Rumours Surrounding Luis Enrique's Title Chasers

Barcelona’s outside chance of signing Marco Reus has been given a timely boost, after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claimed Real Madrid are not looking to conduct any transfer business with Borussia Dortmund, as noted by AS.

“I’m good friends with Borussia’s president,” said Perez. “We’re not looking at Reus, in the same way we are not talking about renovations.”

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

According to Marca (h/t 101 Great Goals), the Catalan giants have been trying to persuade the German international forward to hold off on any transfer next month or in the summer, and join them instead when the club’s transfer embargo is lifted in January 2016. 

Here’s a look at why the Blaugrana are reportedly desperate to get their man:

Reus’ season has been plagued by injury so far this season, but he returned to training recently, as noted by German football expert Alex Chaffer:

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Jürgen Klopp takes Marco Reus to the side for a chat this morning. Would love to be a fly on the wall. Via @Klein_Tho pic.twitter.com/74KnJWEQ8M

— Alex Chaffer (@AlexChaffer) December 18, 2014"

The news that Real aren't in negotiations with the player will certainly come as a surprise to many. Indeed, in the aforementioned piece from 101 Great Goals, it’s noted that Reus would prefer a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and that the respective parties had already opened talks about a potential transfer.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

It’d be a massive ask on the part of Barcelona, if they were to get Reus to hold off on any potential transfer. A widely reported release clause is set to become active imminently after all, one that is likely to entice a host of potential suitors for the player. As noted by Bild (h/t Bleacher Report’s Clark Whitney), Bayern Munich also remain interested:

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Bild: If Bayern are unable to convince Marco Reus to join them, they'll target Liverpool's Raheem Sterling as a "Plan B"

— Clark Whitney (@Mr_Bundesliga) December 16, 2014"

If that wasn't enough to tempt the German away from the Westfalendstadion, Dortmund’s lowly league position—16th at the time of writing—surely will. Reus is a player that should be gracing the Champions League, but unfortunately for Dortmund and Barcelona, he looks increasingly unlikely to do be doing so for either one of those clubs.

Alex Caparros/Getty Images

With Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez all currently occupying the front three spots in this team, it’s not as if Reus is a player that Barcelona are in desperate need of either. Indeed, the German may not command a guaranteed spot in the first team anyway. 

One man who is testament to how difficult it is to breach that classy triumvirate is Pedro, and he’s been linked with a potential move away from the Camp Nou, per David Wright of the Express. According to the piece, Arsenal are readying a £26 million bid for the player, who has found first-team chances tough to come by this season.

David Ramos/Getty Images

The winger has been a key part of Barcelona’s recent success, though, and here’s a look at some of his best moments in the iconic Blaugrana strip:

With the enticing aforementioned trio currently flavour of the month, it seems as though Pedro is the odd one out in Luis Enrique’s attacking plans. Indeed, he’s even been deployed as a right wing-back at times this season, but the 27-year-old is a quality player, capable of doing some real damage in advanced areas of the pitch when given the chance.

As noted here by Sergi Dominguez, Pedro’s form has admittedly tailed off somewhat under Enrique’s tutelage:

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A manager who signed Rakitić to cover Alves when the latter attacks. Who blindly thinks Dani Alves and Pedro are half-decent.

— Sergi Domínguez (@FutbolSergi) December 13, 2014"

But with the Catalans unable to delve into the market for a replacement until January 2016, would it be a wise move to cash in on such an experienced, talented player? As we've already touched upon, Pedro is a versatile and skillful talent, and as such, he would surely step into the fray should Messi, Neymar or Suarez pick up an injury.

He’s a thoroughbred goalscorer too, as we were witness to in Barcelona’s hammering of Huesca recently:

Enrique might feel that some of the club’s burgeoning academy talents are ready to make the step up, but Pedro is proven at the very highest level. His know-how and unwavering predatory instincts will be critical if Barcelona are going to challenge for major honours this season and consequentially, it’d be a big surprise to see him leave the club in January.