Barcelona Transfer News: Robin Van Persie Targeted in Shock Blaugrana Rumours

Fenerbahce striker Robin van Persie is a shock January transfer target for Barcelona, according to reports.

Mundo Deportivo (h/t Sport Witness) has on its front page that the Blaugrana are pondering a move for the former Manchester United and Arsenal forward, who joined the Turkish giants earlier this year. The report suggests playing for Barcelona would allow the 32-year-old to fulfil a dream and give manager Luis Enrique some cover up top.

According to E Rossi of SPORT, Barcelona could be forced to move players on in January in order to make mid-season acquisitions financially viable. Van Persie, who wouldn't be the most expensive purchase given his age, could fit the bill in that sense.

As we can see here courtesy of Paddy Power, the Netherlands international doesn’t look overjoyed to be plying his trade in Turkey at the moment:

On the international front, things haven’t been much better for the veteran striker either. Van Persie scored a comical own goal as the Netherlands lost 3-2 to the Czech Republic earlier in the week, a result which means the third-place side at the 2014 World Cup failed to qualify for the 2016 European Championships.

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According to the aforementioned reports, Barcelona technical director Robert Fernandez was at the Oranje game to run the rule over Van Persie, who did manage to get on the scoresheet late on. However, it’s no secret what the ex-United man would be able to offer a team of the Blaugrana’s stature.

Joe.co.uk provided a comical take on how things have tailed off for Van Persie as of late, just 16 months on from scoring a stunning header at the 2014 World Cup:

Barcelona are a team which could potentially galvanise any spark which is left in the striker, who would be a cheap, short-term solution. After all, at the moment Enrique is a little short of cover in the forward positions, having moved Pedro on in the summer and lost Rafinha for the season with a long-term injury problem.

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Van Persie has a style which seems well suited to the Blaugrana too. He’s never a player who has relied on blistering pace or bustling physicality; the Dutchman is an instinctive forward and a technical talent, and as such, someone who could potentially thrive in bursts at the point of the Barcelona attack.

However, there is a sense that Van Persie could well be more hassle than he’s worth at this late stage in his career, as James Ducker of the Times noted recently:

It’d be a surprise to see Barcelona pursue Van Persie. While he still has the raw talent to offer something at the highest level, concerns over fitness and a rapid deterioration in form seems to have knocked the striker’s confidence. Joining the La Liga giants could rejuvenate him, but it’d be a tricky process without regular time on the field.

While he may not be totally at ease with Fenerbahce, Van Persie needs to get his act together if he’s to remain relevant at the top level.

There’s no reason why he can’t get back scoring goals on a regular basis given his primary attributes are intangible and less likely to perish over time. But a change in attitude must come if he’s to scale those heights again.