Barcelona 'targeting January move for Tottenham star' who is 'admired by Xavi'

Barcelona are targeting a Tottenham midfielder for a move to the club in January, according to reports in Spain.

The reigning LaLiga champions are currently behind both Real Madrid and Girona in the league standings and are already lining up potential reinforcements for January.

A heavy summer of recruitment along with Barcelona's complex financial situation means spending in the winter is likely to be light, but a move for a Premier League star isn't out of the question.

Barcelona are keen to bring in another creative midfielder after young talent Gavi saw his season prematurely ended after undergoing surgery on an ACL injury, as reported by SPORT.

The Spurs player in question has previously played in the Spanish top-flight and impressed Barcelona manager Xavi while previously on-loan at Villarreal.

Giovani Lo Celso has revitalised his Tottenham career under Ange Postecoglou's guidance this season, but could be tempted by a move to the famous Catalan club.

The Argentine previously failed to make an impact at the club after joining from Real Betis three-years ago and was even shipped out on loan to Villarreal after being deemed surplus to requirements at the club.

Lo Celso was brought back in from the cold by new manager Postecoglou during the summer and has begun to see his influence in the squad grow.

However, scoring in consecutive recent games against Aston Villa and Manchester City means Spurs are unlikely to let the player leave halfway through the season.

'Gio will get an opportunity particularly over the next few weeks,' Postecoglou recently said when asked about the 27-year-old.

'We are down on numbers and have a fair few games between now and new year.

'We won't get anyone back of significance in that time apart from Romero so Gio and the other guys will get that opportunity. He had a really strong pre-season and then he got injured at Fulham which was his first start and that set him back for quite a while.