Barcelona head into the new campaign without a recognized senior striker on their books, a gap created by the departures of two key attacking players over the summer.
Robert Lewandowski, 37, ended his stay at the Camp Nou after his contract expired, opting to continue his career in Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire. Meanwhile, Ferran Torres has completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal worth around 50 million euros, roughly £42.7 million. Torres had been a productive presence last season, netting 21 goals in 49 appearances while frequently deputizing for Lewandowski through the center of the attack.
With both players gone, Barcelona's roster currently lacks a natural, established number nine, forcing manager Hansi Flick to reassess how his side will generate goals this season.
The club's preferred route out of this predicament is reportedly a move for Julian Alvarez, the Atletico Madrid and Argentina forward who has been strongly linked with a transfer. Alvarez, 26, hinted during the World Cup that he could be open to a new challenge. However, Atletico have given no indication they are willing to let him leave. Club chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin stated firmly that Alvarez would not be sold under any circumstances, insisting the club would reject even a bid of 200 million euros (£170.8 million). Real Madrid have also been mentioned as suitors, adding further competition to any potential pursuit.
Despite the difficulty of that pursuit, Flick has stressed that Barcelona are not without alternatives already in the squad. "We know we have to do something," the German coach said earlier this month, acknowledging the need to address the situation while also pointing to the flexibility of his current attacking options.
Chief among those options is Lamine Yamal, who has quickly established himself as the focal point of Barcelona's attack. The teenager enjoyed a standout campaign, scoring 24 goals and lifting the World Cup with Spain. While he has shown the capability to play as a false nine, his most valuable trait remains his ability to isolate defenders out wide on the right, cut inside, and unlock defenses through individual brilliance. For that reason, Flick's stated preference is to keep Yamal stationed on the right wing rather than shifting him into a central striking role permanently.
Other squad members provide further versatility. Dani Olmo has experience operating as a false nine, and Raphinha has also been deployed through the middle under Flick at times. Fermin Lopez represents another option in advanced positions, having expressed his own comfort playing in a false nine role. Additionally, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi bring pace and directness to Barcelona's forward line, though neither profiles as a traditional target man or out-and-out striker.
Given these varied resources, Barcelona could ultimately opt for a fluid, rotational approach to their attack rather than relying on a single fixed striker. Such a system, with players interchanging positions rather than occupying a static central role between opposing center-backs, could theoretically make Flick's side unpredictable and difficult to defend against.
Still, despite the potential of a rotating forward line, there remains a clear preference at the club to bring in a recognized, specialist striker who fits the profile they are seeking — underlining that the pursuit of a proven number nine, whether Alvarez or another target, is likely to remain a priority as the transfer window progresses.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.