Barcelona have decided they will not sign a specialist striker unless they can complete a deal for Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, according to Spanish radio station Cadena SER.
The Catalan club intends to pursue the Argentina international until the end of the transfer window, with Alvarez understood to be the priority target for manager Hansi Flick. Barcelona are also aware of the effort the player is making in the hope of securing a move to the club.
Alvarez has received a phone call from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, but the forward does not want to move to the Gunners. His preference is reportedly to play only for Barcelona.
The club’s other potential options for the centre-forward position include Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez and Joao Pedro. However, Cadena SER reports that none of those alternatives is currently available to Barcelona.
Barcelona have also considered less expensive possibilities, including Tressoldi and Eli Kroupi. Those players are admired by the club, but they are not viewed as signings who would improve the current level of the squad.
As a result, Flick is preparing to use players already in Barcelona’s squad if Alvarez cannot be signed. The manager is expected to consider Raphinha, Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Dani Olmo and Hamza Abdelkarim as possible options to operate as the team’s main striker.
The situation means Abdelkarim remains part of Flick’s thinking despite not playing in Barcelona’s opening La Liga match against Elche. His absence from that game has not removed him from consideration for the role.
Barcelona’s approach follows an assessment of the available transfer market. The club has concluded that adding a striker simply for the sake of increasing the number of options would not be worthwhile unless the player could provide a significant improvement. Alvarez is therefore the only specialist forward Barcelona are currently prepared to prioritise.
Flick’s alternative would be to adapt players who are already familiar with the squad and can be used in attacking positions. Raphinha, Gordon, Adeyemi and Olmo offer different possible solutions, while Abdelkarim remains among the younger options being monitored by the manager.
The club will continue trying to reach an agreement for Alvarez, but the outcome of that pursuit will determine whether Barcelona recruit a conventional number nine or proceed with an internal solution.
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