RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBarcelona may not sign any striker if Plan A fails
Barcelona’s summer transfer window began with the quick completion of Anthony Gordon’s signing, but there has not been much progress since then.
The club did manage to finish one more recruitment in the form of Karim Adeyemi but have not made any movement towards the top targets they had for the summer – a centre-back and a centre-forward.
Julian Alvarez has long been linked as the club’s top striker target since the beginning of the summer transfer window, but Atletico Madrid refused to negotiate back then and they continue to maintain the same stance now. Barcelona’s plans, thus, have taken a hit.
Alvarez or nobody
In a recent report by El Larguero via SPORT , journalist Ramon Besa provides an update on Alvarez’s situation and how Barcelona are approaching the striker position.
Atletico Madrid refuse to negotiate. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
As reported by the Spanish outlet, Barcelona may well end up not signing any striker if Alvarez does not arrive. He is the coach’s direct request that the administration backed, but if his move does not materialise, they see the alternatives as having a massive gap in quality.
Moreover, Atletico Madrid will also have a serious problem if Alvarez indeed wishes to leave as he stated at the FIFA World Cup. After all, the player does not want to return to England where they wouldn’t preferably sell him to.
All parties are thus at a stalemate as matters stand, and it may end up hurting all parties involved.
Barcelona may need internal solutions
If indeed the club fail to sign Alvarez and are not looking for any other strikers on the market, they will have to look for internal solutions to fill the gap at number nine. The options, however, are very limited after Robert Lewandowski’s departure.
Will Flick turn to Hamza Abdelkarim? (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Ferran Torres will be the obvious candidate to be the team’s starting centre-forward in such a scenario, but questions can be asked of his lack of clinical finishing and inconsistency. Further, he is not a traditional imposing presence in the box.
Dani Olmo is a second option if the manager opts to play with a false nine, although that will require a change of system and massive tactical tweaks.
A third strong candidate to feature as the central striker is Hamza Abdelkarim who is shining in pre-season and made his presence known with a brace against Birmingham.
The Egyptian star is highly rated as a traditional centre-forward, and the club can look to nurture him and develop his talent.
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