BARCA TO RELEASE MASCHERANO ONLY IF THERE IS REPLACEMENT

The Argentine defender is keen to move on in January and the situation could create some ill feeling at the Catalan club, who need numbers at the back

All of a sudden, Barcelona have problems in defence. Samuel Umtiti pulled up with a muscle problem in the 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo last weekend and is set to be out for two months. And to make matters worse, Javier Mascherano wants to leave in January.

The Argentine is a popular player among Barca fans and also in the dressing room at the Catalan club. However, he is also a fading force on the pitch at the age of 32 and admitted recently that his time at Camp Nou is nearing its end.

"My Barca era is still not over, but it's getting closer," Mascherano said in an interview with ESPN last week. "I'm clear about that. I believe that all eras have to come to an end in life and mine at Barca is close to its end - I think I know when, but I'm not going to say!"

However, it is already common knowledge that the Argentine is keen to leave in the winter window as he looks to close out his professional career on the pitch and not on the bench, having started just eight games for Barca this season.

The former Liverpool player has told Barca to let him leave in January. He must have known, though, that he would not be a regular starter this season with Gerard Pique and Umtiti the two first-choice centre-backs for the Catalan club for most of last season.

Mascherano is one of the club captains this term and would be better off waiting until the end of the season, especially because he has just spent several weeks out with an injury he picked up on international duty with Argentina.

Barca understand his situation and would like to be able to agree to the player's request, given he has been such a loyal servant to the Catalan club since signing from Liverpool on Lionel Messi's recommendation in 2011.

However, Umtiti's injury has left Barca relying on Thomas Vermaelen to partner Pique at the back and the Belgium defender is prone to muscle problems. Meanwhile, Marlon was allowed to leave on a two-year loan to Nice in the summer. 

So Barca are loath to let Mascherano leave unless a replacement can be brought in at the same time and while a move for Palmeiras' Colombian centre-back Yerry Mina is in the pipeline, Valverde wants a player with experience in Europe.