Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on John Stones, Sergi Roberto Rumours

Everton star defender John Stones has reportedly put Barcelona on high alert, as the Sun's Alan Nixon claims the England international is currently taking Spanish lessons.

Per Nixon, fans of the Blaugrana recently gave their seal of approval regarding a possible transfer in a poll, and Catalan defender Gerard Pique named him in his World XI. Reports he may now be learning Spanish will surely fuel the transfer rumours even more.

Stones was a key target for Chelsea throughout the summer, but the Toffees refused to sell, turning down repeated transfer bids of up to £37 million for the 21-year-old.

The youngster has emerged as one of England's top defensive talents in recent years, showing remarkable maturity and incredible potential. The Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott is a fan:

Barcelona field an incredible amount of young talent in midfield and attack, but in comparison, the cupboard is remarkably bare on the defensive end. Pique and Mascherano are the usual starters, while Marc Bartra, Thomas Vermaelen and Jeremy Mathieu provide depth.

Of that group, only Bartra can realistically be called a prospect, and while the 24-year-old is a solid player, he doesn't have the long-term potential that makes Stones so special. Despite his young age, Stones would realistically already be the third-best centre-back in the Catalan squad, should he join in January.

Stones' links with the Catalans are flattering and make a lot of sense, but there's a major hurdle in the way of any proposed move: his price tag. As explained by Sport Witness, the Blaugrana are struggling to balance the books as it is―they can't afford to spend another £40 million in January without selling first:

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73% of Barcelona fans said that Stones would be a good signing for their club, and one they'd give their backing to, and 27% were against the idea of signing the defender from Everton.

The problem for Barcelona is that whilst their fans may be saying YES to the idea of buying Stones from Everton, the club's current financial situation says a very clear NO. Barcelona are struggling to balance the books and their ever pressing debts, big pay deals given out to the biggest stars means that something has to give.

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While it may be hard to accept for the fans, the fact remains Barcelona don't have any money to spend on big signings in January, and the situation is unlikely to change by next summer. That's not a major problem, as the squad is clearly talented enough as it is, but it does limit what the Catalans can do in the transfer market.

Everton weren't willing to sell Stones to Chelsea last summer, and while they would perhaps be more inclined to move the player to a foreign suitor, they won't lower their asking price too much.

Barcelona to Increase Sergi Roberto's Buy-out Clause

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In news that shouldn't surprise anyone, Barcelona are eager to increase Sergi Roberto's buy-out clause following a string of impressive performances and reports Chelsea are scouting the young midfielder.

According to the Sunday People (h/t Daily Star's Alex Wood), Roberto's current buy-out clause sits at just £21.5 million, and manager Luis Enrique would like to see it increased until at least £32 million.

The 23-year-old is enjoying a sensational breakout campaign with the Catalans and has been one of the team's best performers all season long, despite the low expectations surrounding him coming into the season. Here's how he's done so far:

His versatility has been the main reason for his heavy usage, as he has impressed playing as a wing-back, full-back, central midfielder and even winger. ESPN FC's Lee Roden just had to make this joke:

His rise to prominence has been a bit reminiscent of Thiago Alcantara, who made a big impact for the club in 2012-13 and promptly left for Bayern Munich the following summer. While Roberto isn't in the exact same situation, the danger of a sudden exit is always there with Spanish buy-out clauses, particularly if they aren't that high.

One could argue even £32 million would be a steal for a player as talented as Roberto, but such a clause should make the Catalans feel a little safer. Roberto is Catalan by birth and unlikely to leave the Blaugrana even if his clause is triggered, but stranger things have happened.

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