Barcelona don't expect to make January signings but there could be departures Barcelona Sales are to be prioritised

The summer transfer market has not long closed, yet Barcelona are already starting to plan for the January window, even if the club don't expect to purchase any new players.

What is expected, though, is that a number of players will leave the club on a permanent basis, with plans already in motion to move several players away from the Camp Nou.

Despite late efforts to sign Neymar in August, the Brazilian will not be on the January agenda, it's a totally impossible operation for the mid-season window, especially given the mammoth wage bill that the Catalan giants have already accumulated.

Barcelona do need to balance the books and they need to sell players to do that, and any sale must take place before the current fiscal year ends on June 30.

One the winter break arrives, Los Cules will make refreshed attempts to sell Ivan Rakitic, Samuel Umtiti and Arturo Vidal, as well as some of the more fringe members of the senior squad.

Carles Alena and Moussa Wague are two possible candidates for a move, especially if they don't see more first-team action before January.

Ernesto Valverde has an overload of players, something which he himself has recognised, especially in midfield where there are seven players battling for three spaces on a weekly basis.

The squad will be trimmed in January, that's certain, however for Barcelona supporters who enjoy the fanfare of a big signing, there will be no Philippe Coutinho equivalent in January 2020.