Barcelona coach Enrique could bolster his squad in January

Catalan football powerhouse FC Barcelona's head coach Luis Enrique is open to new signings in the January transfer window.

Barcelona roped in Paco Alcacer, Jasper Cillessen, Lucas Digne, Denis Suarez, Andre Gomes and Samuel Umtiti at the start of this season for a combined outlay reportedly totalling more than 120 million euros (around $130 million).

Injuries though have blighted the La Liga champions in recent weeks with Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Jeremy Mathieu and Aleix Vidal all sidelined ahead of Sunday's clash with Sevilla.

"I'm not going to be very original. Barca always have to be open to ways of improving the team," he was quoted as saying by goal.com on Saturday.

"It depends on whether there is something interesting and the price is right. But we're always open, regardless of whether we have more of a need (for players)," the coach added.

Assessing Barcelona's injuries ahead of the meeting with Jorge Sampaoli's side at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, he added: "The players themselves will determine the process (of recovery). We have no hope of getting them back right now.

"We are who we are and we have to be happy with that."

Enrique also said that he expects a tough contest against fourth-placed Sevilla. "It will be a difficult game as Sevilla are in a strong position. To win we will need to get the upper hand in the individual battles all over the pitch," Enrique told Barcelona's website.

"Sevilla have had a spectacular start to the season playing good football and they are very hard to beat at home. If they are in a strong league position it is because they deserve it and this will be a tough game against a difficult opponent."

--IANS

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