Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde insists Carles Alena is in his plans.

The midfielder has been linked with Tottenham ahead of the January market.

Valverde said, "[Carles] Alena hasn't played as much as I thought, and he possibly deserves more game time because he is giving everything in training.

"There is a lot of competition in midfield and he can be called at any time so he has to be prepared."