The January transfer window has not opened yet and Barcelona have already reached a 6-month loan agreement with Valencia for Jeison Murillo.
The official club statement read – “FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement for the transfer of Jeison Murillo for the remainder of the 2018/19 season. The agreement includes a purchase option worth 25 million euros (£22.6million).”
Ernesto Valverde has been forced to utilise the short transfer period after Samuel Umtiti went down with a knee injury last month. The Frenchman has been ruled out indefinitely since he will require further treatment and Thomas Vermalean is facing a month on the sidelines due to problems with his calf muscles.
Currently, Valverde has Gerard Pique and Clement Lenglet to carry out the centre-half duties but the duo cannot be expected to play every game for the remainder of the season.
Murillo started out his playing career with Serie A outfit, Udinese and later spent time with Granada CF. He made his switch to Valencia from Inter Milan for €12m last summer after a successful season-long loan spell. The 26-year-old has made just 3 appearances for the Oranges this season and it is fair to call him an excess to Marcelino Garcia Toral’s requirements.
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