Barcelona are keen on signing Ferran Torres and Edinson Cavani at the earliest opportunity.
The Catalan giants have experienced a tough first half of the campaign. They are a staggering 16 points adrift of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who are currently top of La Liga.
A title challenge is off the cards, but they have a genuine chance to secure Champions League football. They are three points adrift of fourth-placed Rayo Vallecano with a game in hand.
The Blaugrana can also qualify for the elite competition by winning the Europa League, although they have a tricky challenge with Napoli to face in the play-off round.
Mundo Deportivo now reports that Xavi Hernandez has identified Torres and Cavani as the prime targets to bolster the strike force during the forthcoming transfer window.
The Blaugrana have already agreed personal terms with Torres, but they are eyeing an initial loan deal rather than meeting Manchester City’s reported €50 million valuation.
Meanwhile, Cavani could be available for a nominal fee with his contract with Manchester United expiring next summer. However, he may need to take a big pay cut.
The Uruguay international is currently earning around €293,000-per-week. This could delay a potential transfer as the Blaugrana will need to offload players to free up wages.
Xavi wants both players signed before the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Madrid on January 12.
Football Today view:
The Blaugrana are going through a transition at the moment, with several young graduates being handed first-team opportunities by Xavi, who took charge last month.
There have been plenty of positives in recent weeks, but Xavi is aware that the club need more quality up front to achieve the aim of finishing in the top four.
Torres has seen a massive upturn in his career since his move to City last summer. He has 20 goal contributions from 43 club games while he has also excelled for Spain.
The Blaugrana have tracked his progress since his time at Valencia. Torres has given the green light for the transfer, but it is up to City and Pep Guardiola to sanction the deal.
Meanwhile, Cavani has vast experience, and he would assure the Blaugrana regular goals if he is handed a consistent run of games in the starting line-up.
The Uruguayan netted 17 times for the Red Devils last term, but his game time has significantly reduced this season after the shock summer return of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 34-year-old has been nursing a tendon issue lately. The Blaugrana may need to assess his situation first, given he has suffered multiple niggles over the past few years.
