Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde believes Samuel Umtiti could make a quicker return from injury than first thought.

Barca announced Umtiti would be sidelined for eight weeks with his injury but Valverde suggested he could return sooner.

"We've got December to think about these things but Samuel Umtiti's injury is not a long-term one. By January, he should be coming back," he added.

"We have some injury problems that we have to think about but we have more analysis to do in that department [transfers] before I can make any official statement."

Utility man Sergi Roberto distanced himself from suggestions he could fill in at centre-back when he addressed the media before his coach, who has already come up with back-up plans.

"Sergio Busquets has played there sometimes, Lucas Digne has done so as well," Valverde added. "We're going to have to find an answer, there's no doubt about that.

"At the moment we've still got healthy centre-backs. Let's hope they don't get injured. If they do, then we've got a problem."