FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona

Indeed, according to Sport BILD, Barcelona are among some of the top clubs in Europe, who recently watched RB Leipzig midfield prodigy Assan Ouedraogo in action. Along with the Blaugrana, Premier League heavyweights Arsenal and Liverpool also scouted the 19-year-old German ace. Ouedraogo is a product of the Schalke youth academy. Having broken into the first-team setup and made 17 appearances, the youngster was snapped up by Leipzig in the summer of 2024.

While he has been training alone with goalkeeping coach Jose Ramon de la Fuente for weeks, the plan is now accelerating. Ter Stegen is expected to rejoin group training within the next two weeks. If everything goes according to plan, he should receive the medical green light before the end of 2025. His recent social media post, captioned "It's great to be back with the team," confirms that he is already reintegrating with the squad dynamics.

"When we lose and when we concede three goals, it's easy to say it wasn't a good game or that it wasn't the Barça we'd like to see. Ultimately, some people don't understand what we need to play with that high defensive line. It's our own style; it's not just about the defenders. The forwards and midfielders also initiate the press. That's what I need from the players."

Although the winter transfer window is still some way away, Barcelona remain attentive to all activity around them. The sporting department continues to monitor the football landscape closely in order to anticipate future needs and avoid losing ground to other clubs. Meetings between agents and club executives are part of daily operations, allowing both sides to exchange information, understand upcoming market movements, and lay a foundation that may later prove decisive.

Nico Schlotterbeck is fast-emerging as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga, with the German already establishing himself as a real leader in the Dortmund backline. A centre-back by trade, Schlotterbeck is known for his technical brilliance and speed, making him a crafty operator who can not only execute forward passes but also break down counter-attacks. Schlotterbeck has been performing consistently for Dortmund for years and has now attracted the interest of top clubs across Europe, including Barcelona.

"It's a natural step. My father was a board member, I was a futsal player and then a board member under the last three presidents (Laporta, Rosell, and Bartomeu) with responsibilities in futsal, youth development, La Masia, and the women's team. "That's 21 years linked to the club, which leaves a huge mark on you." The pre-candidate defined his project as the result of "knowledge, experience, and passion" for an institution that, in his view, "is not the Barça we want today."

Tuesday night saw FC Barcelona fall to a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea away at Stamford Bridge, further hindering their chances of securing a top-eight finish in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The Blaugrana were thoroughly outplayed by Enzo Maresca's team from the start, with their problems only being compounded by Ronald Araujo's red card in the first half. One of the stars that shone the brightest for Chelsea on the night was Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian - a name very familiar to Barcelona. The 18-year-old sensation was a threat going forward and even scored a brilliant goal early in the second half to make it 2-0. However, it could all have been very different for Estevao.