Barcelona Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of December 22

Barcelona enter Christmas week with transfer rumours prevalent.

With the opening of the January transfer window imminent, clubs are beginning to position themselves to make a purchase or two.

Given it will be this time next year before the Catalans can buy anyone, they could do without losing any players at this point.

Strength in depth is what will drive them forward at the business end of the season, a time when even supposed fringe players earn their keep.

Let's take a look at the latest rumours surrounding the club. Remember to keep checking back throughout the week for updates.

—Last update: Friday December 26—

Pedro Rodriguez

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Pedro is not for sale.

The "not for sale" boar has gone up. Pedro is going nowhere.

According to Miguel Angel Lara of Marca, Arsene Wenger was "flatly turned down" when making an approach for the player, and it is understood that Luis Enrique was behind the move.

The Canary Islander will be hoping for some more minutes in the second half of the season.

Martin Montoya

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Juventus are ready to land Martin Montoya.

The winter transfer window is almost upon us and one player certain to leave is Martin Montoya.

The out-of-favour right-back has been interesting a number of clubs, with Juventus in pole position.

According to Sport via Inside Futbol, the Italians will formally make their move once the window opens with a view to concluding a deal quickly.

Sergi Roberto

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Wil Sergi Roberto be the third Blaugrana to line up for Stoke City?

Despite only recently signing a contract to keep him at the Camp Nou until 2019, Sergi Roberto could be set for a move to the Premier League.

According to the Daily Mail via Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football, the youngster continues to interest Mark Hughes at Stoke, who wants to offer Roberto a six-month loan deal with a view to making it permanent if he impresses.

Should he join, he'll be the third Blaugrana at the Potters after Marc Muniesa and Bojan Krkic.

Adama Traore

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Liverpool are on the tail of Adama Traore.

Following rumours that Everton were keen to take Adama Traore on loan for the second half of the season, according to Sport via Ibrahim Akkas of Squawka, Liverpool have now "officially" made their approach.

The report suggests that Barca will only consider letting the player leave on loan, and further details that West Ham are also interested in Traore's services.

Sergi Roberto

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Sergi Roberto could be about to join Bojan Krkic and Marc Muniesa at Stoke City.

It would appear that Sergi Roberto is on the verge of joining ex-Barca colleagues Marc Muniesa and Bojan Krkic at Stoke City.

According to Jamie Sanderson of Metro, Barca are allowing the player to leave in January and Roberto is already in England awaiting the deal to be rubber-stamped.

Neymar

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Barcelona want to extend Neymar's contract.

In some good news for Barca fans, Neymar's agent Wagner Ribeiro has confirmed that the club want to extend the players contract.

According to Goal.com, any new deal will run until 2020, the current deal running out in 2018.

Once signed, the contract will be a reward for a sensational second campaign in Blaugrana.

Lionel Messi

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Despite rumoured interest, Jose Mourinho has admitted that Chelsea can't afford Lionel Messi.

Lionel Messi will not be signing for Chelsea in January.

According to Charles Perrin of the Daily Express, Jose Mourinho apparently went on a "charm offensive" in the last few weeks with the aim of securing Messi to play alongside ex-Barca star Cesc Fabregas.

However, a proposed £200 million transfer fee is beyond even the Blues as Financial Fair Play bites hard.

Martin Odegaard

Barcelona have made their move to sign Martin Odegaard.

Inside Spanish Football note a report in Mundo Deportivo outlining a contact offer that has been made to the player:

"

Odegaard has been a target for Barcelona for over a year and after visiting and training with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern, Ajax and “the club of his dreams” Liverpool, he finally made his way to the Camp Nou accompanied by his father Hans Erik Odegaard and agent Karl Karlsen.

However, this was the first visit to a club where he could be presented with a formal offer, as he’d just turned the legal age of 16 on Wednesday and according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona did in fact present him with an offer.

The offer is much the same to that of Alen Halilovic, where he would spend one season with the Barcelona B squad before joining the first team.

Barcelona have already communicated their intentions to Odegaard’s current club Stromsgodset IF and hope to bring in the player at the end of their ban in January 2016 or sooner, should TAS rule against FIFA and reduce their ban.

"

Adama Traore

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Will Roberto Martinez pull off another loan move for a Barca winger?

Adama Traore could be the second Barcelona winger to move to Merseyside on loan.

According to Metro via Football Espana, Everton are ready to open negotiations to take the player from under the noses of cross-city rivals Liverpool, who are also known to be keen on taking the player for the second half of the season.

A move works for all parties, and will give Adama the chance of regular first-team football before his eventual integration into the first-team picture at Barca next season.

Pedro Rodriguez

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Pedro has distanced himself from exit rumours.

Pedro Rodriguez has given Barca a pre-Christmas boost by distancing himself from the rumours linking him with a move to Arsenal.

According to Mundo Deportivo, via Tom Thorogood of Here is the City, the Canary Islander noted:

"

Rumours in England about Arsenal interest?

I have no plans to leave. I am comfortable here, I want to remain here and have a great year at Barca.

"

That's about as definitive a statement as possible, straight from the horse's mouth.

Martin Montoya

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It seems inevitable that Martin Montoya will leave Barca.

One player who seems certain to leave the club is Martin Montoya.

Despite having played the last two games and Barca slapping a hefty transfer fee on the player, his agent is still adamant that Montoya is looking for pastures new.

Juan de Dios Carrasco had previously informed Barca of his client's desire to leave, and he told Calcio Mercato, via Inside Futbol, that nothing has changed following Montoya's recent appearances:

"

I think there may be some news from next week.

One thing is clear: the game against Huesca and eventually playing in the match on Saturday against Cordoba change nothing.

Our decision remains the same.

"

Liverpool and Juventus are said to be among the teams interested in securing Montoya's services.

Martin Odegaard

European football's hottest property, 16-year-old Martin Odegaard, has been in Barcelona recently as part of his whistle-stop tour of the best clubs in the continent.

Norwegian publication VG, via Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football, reported of the youngster's arrival in the Catalan capital on Friday, whereupon he was set to be given a tour of the club's facilities and the opportunity of meet his idol Lionel Messi at the Cordoba game.

His acquisition will depend on Barca having their transfer ban overturned, but the club will have their work cut out to secure the player in any event, given the interest of Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Arsenal.