Barcelona set to loan out 22-year-old academy product in January | OneFootball

With the January transfer window only a month ago, Barcelona are formulating plans to restructure their squad so as to be able to register new players. A list of first-team members considered to be transferable is reportedly being prepared, while efforts to sign targets like Ferran Torres and Karim Adeyemi are being made at the same time.

While all this goes on at the front and centre, a certain Alex Collado is waiting for the winter transfer window to arrive. The 22-year-old has had a torrid six months or so, after having been axed by ex-manager Ronald Koeman during the pre-season tour.

A move to Belgian outfit Club Brugge on loan was touted, only for it to fall through. He then saw a temporary transfer to EFL Championship club Sheffield United collapse on the deadline day.

Not registered with the Barcelona senior squad or the B team, and unable to leave, the 22-year-old has not played any form of professional football over the past months and has been training with the youth squads, waiting for the January window to come along.

Now, Gerard Romero is reporting that Collado will most certainly be loaned out by Barca when the mid-season window is open for business. The journalist claims that the former B team captain has no shortage of proposals, with La Liga clubs Granada and Deportivo Alaves currently the best-placed to sign him up.

Xavi Hernandez & co. are on the lookout for wingers in January and Collado could have been an option for the first-team boss to consider. However, Romero adds that as per RFEF’s Article 126, a club cannot register the same player that they unregistered in one season.

Since the winger was unregistered due to him potentially leaving on loan in the summer, Barca will be unable to register him until next season. So, that leaves the option of a loan exit as the only avenue for Collado come January. As to where he ends up, only time will tell.