Barcelona's Late Pursuit for a No.9 Striker

Barcelona have hit pause on their pursuit of Julián Álvarez and turned to a crowded, complicated market for a new centre-forward as the transfer window ticks into its final days, sources have told ESPN.

The club have not closed the door on Álvarez. Far from it. A return for the Argentina international remains on the table, potentially as early as January. But Atlético Madrid’s hardline refusal to negotiate has forced sporting director Deco to move on to other targets, at least for now.

Hansi Flick, installed this summer and already reshaping the squad in his image, has been clear: he wants a No.9. Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres have gone, and the German coach believes a specialist striker is essential to anchor his attack.

Inside the club, not everyone agrees.

Some senior voices argue the squad already carries enough firepower to muddle through without a marquee centre-forward. They point to the versatility in the front line and the tactical flexibility Flick has at his disposal.

Álvarez, though, was always the preferred option. As reported by ESPN earlier this year, Barça pushed hard and saw a bid of around €100 million rejected earlier in the summer. Atlético have held their line ever since: the former Manchester City forward is not for sale.

That stance has not shifted even after Álvarez went public with ESPN about his desire to move clubs. Barcelona hoped those comments might crack Atlético’s resolve. They haven’t. One source now concedes that, short of a “radical” late twist, the deal is off the table for this month.

Flick wants a striker, the club sees alternatives

Flick’s message remains unchanged. He would still like a No.9, even if it is not Álvarez. The debate now is whether the answer is already in-house.

Raphinha, Karim Adeyemi, Anthony Gordon and even Lamine Yamal are all viewed as options to operate through the middle if needed. None are classic penalty-box strikers, but all offer pace, movement and pressing from the front.

Fermín López and Dani Olmo have also been used as false nines before, adding another layer of tactical cover. The only orthodox centre-forward involved with the first team during preseason has been 18-year-old Egypt international Hamza Abdelkarim, a talent for the future rather than an immediate solution at the top end of LaLiga.

A long shortlist, few realistic deals

Barcelona’s search has already taken them down several dead ends.

Earlier in the summer they explored moves for João Pedro and Junior Kroupi. Those possibilities quickly faded: João Pedro signed a new contract with Chelsea, while Bournemouth’s Kroupi has been ruled out for up to four months with a foot injury.

Other names have flickered on the radar in recent weeks. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez and Sporting CP’s Luis Suárez have both been linked. On paper, both fit the profile. In reality, the costs involved make any deal unworkable for now given Barça’s financial constraints.

One source says the club have tracked Benjamin Sesko for years and admire the Manchester United attacker, but describe a move at this stage as “impossible.”

The net has widened inside LaLiga as well. Villarreal duo Ayoze Pérez and Georges Mikautadze have been discussed, with internal data and scouting reports particularly strong on Mikautadze since his arrival in Spain.

For Deco and Flick, the equation is simple but unforgiving: land a late No.9 at the right price, trust a makeshift solution from within, or wait until January and go back in for Álvarez. The clock is running, and Barcelona’s season up front may be defined by what they can’t quite pull off this month.