Barcelona's recruitment wranglings

Thomas Vermaelen's injury has opened a doorway for Barcelona to bring in a new player. However, the chances of that actually happening are minimal.

First and foremost, because technically it doesn't look like the situation meets the conditions required by the Spanish FA. And, secondly, because both the club's transfer team and the manager believe it might not be the club's best option.

Regulations state that the club can look for a replacement player if a player is out through injury for at least five months. In the club's official statement, Barcelona estimated that the defender would be sidelined for between four and five months, which means he might just be out for the required period. This eligibility issue should be cleared up after Vermaelen undergoes surgery and the doctors establish an estimate recovery period.

This is the first obstacle. The second is FIFA's ban on the club making any signings. The club is waiting for confirmation on the applicability of this to the current situation.

Presuming the technical wranglings could potentially be resolved, there's also the debate within the club. At the moment the club's scouting and transfer staff aren't keen on bringing another player in and Luis Enrique agrees. It's not a definite no, but they believe that with the players they have they can make it through the expected period of Vermaelen's injury.