LaLiga ruling means Barcelona can sign transfer target this month

Barcelona are petitioning to sign a new striker out of the transfer window due to an alarming number of first-team injuries, claims Goal.com.

The Spanish giants currently only have 18 fit senior players with the likes of Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele unlikely to play again this season.

Barcelona were heavily linked with a number of strikers during the end of the January transfer window but nothing materalised.

Quique Setien's side are now looking to seek approval from LaLiga to sign a player outside of the transfer window under rule 124.3, which states cover may be seeked if a first-team player is out for five months or more.

However, the injury must have taken place outside of the transfer window, which means Barcelona will try to use Dembele's injury, and not Suarez's, to convince LaLiga they need a replacement.

Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday Dembele has suffered a serious hamstring tear in training and they are waiting for the winger to undergo surgery in Finland to discover how long he will be sidelined for.

Under this ruling, Barcelona would only be able to sign someone from another Spanish club and not from a foreign side and a deal must be completed within 15 days.

Barcelona have already identified Getafe striker Angel Rodriguez as their top transfer target, while Girona's Cristhian Stuani is another option.

Money, or a lack of, was a big problem for Barcelona in January and it forced them into selling some of their young players.

Rodriguez has a €10m release clause in his current deal and it is part of the reason why Barcelona are keen.

Losing Rodriguez would be a massive blow for Getafe, as the 32-year-old has played a major role in the club pushing for an unlikely top-four finish this season.

Getafe, who are scheduled to play Barcelona the following weekend, are currently third in the table and are due to play Ajax in the first round of Europa League knockout ties.

Rodriguez is not a first-team regular for Getafe but his contributions have been invaluable for Jose Bordalas' side this season.

The veteran forward has started only six times in 19 league appearances this season but has returned nine goals and one assist in that period.

Despite only starting six times in 19 league appearances this season, Rodriguez has played a direct hand in 10 goals for Getafe this season.

In fact, Rodriguez has scored more goals as a substitute than any other player in Europe's top five leagues this season (7).