Xavi's new look Barcelona after 4 January transfers including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Barcelona defied their well-documented financial problems to enjoy a busy January transfer window which included four arrivals into the first-team squad.

There was always likely to be a radical squad overhaul after the club crashed out of the Champions League group stage and were subsequently eliminated from both the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey last month.

In December, Barca boss Xavi pledged that the club will return to the level of Europe’s elite in a year from now and wasted no time in delving into the transfer market.

Veteran full-back Dani Alves became Xavi’s first signing as a free agent – the defender will turn 39 before the season is out and was signed in November before his registration kicked in this year.

The Catalan giants then confirmed the arrival of the Brazilian before completing the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City this month for an initial fee of £46million, with potential add-ons meaning the deal could rise to £54million.

Barca were not finished there; they secured the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves before clinching the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

That is over a third of an entire new starting line-up arrived at the club within the space of a month with Xavi’s impact already being felt.

There will not be a change to the long-term position of number one goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, although doubts may remain over the German’s future.

He has endured a prolonged slump in form over the past 18 months and could be an option for the club to cash-in on should they need to continue raising funds.

Alves will slot into the right-back slot, displacing Sergino Dest, with long-serving left-back Jordi Alba continuing in his position.

Gerard