Barcelona will only sign a striker if Julian Alvarez deal can be done

Barcelona have decided they will not sign another recognised centre-forward unless they can complete a deal for Atletico de Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, following an assessment of their transfer-market options.

According to Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the Catalan club will continue trying until the end of the transfer window to secure Alvarez’s signing. The Argentina international is understood to be the priority target for manager Hansi Flick, with Barcelona aware of the effort the player is making in pursuit of a move.

Alvarez has also received contact from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. However, he does not want to join the Gunners and is only interested in moving to Barcelona.

The club have considered a number of other high-profile forwards as possible alternatives. Those names include Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez and Joao Pedro, but Cadena SER reports that none of those options is currently available to Barcelona.

Barcelona have also looked at lower-cost possibilities, including Tresoldi and Eli Kroupi. While both players are admired, the club’s view is that signing either would not raise the current level of the squad.

That has led Barcelona to focus on Alvarez as the one external attacking addition they are prepared to pursue. If an agreement cannot be reached for the Atletico de Madrid forward, Flick is expected to examine solutions within his existing squad rather than bring in a different striker.

Several players are being considered for the central attacking role, including Raphinha, Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, Dani Olmo and Hamza Abdelkarim. The list reflects the club’s willingness to use players in a different position if its preferred transfer target cannot be secured.

Hamza Abdelkarim remains part of Flick’s plans despite being left out of Barcelona’s opening La Liga match against Elche. His omission from that game has therefore not been interpreted as a decision to remove him from consideration for the position.

The teenager is one of several internal options who could be assessed if Barcelona fail to sign Alvarez. Flick’s final decision will depend on how the squad develops and whether the club can complete its pursuit of the Argentina striker.

For now, Barcelona’s strategy is clear: Alvarez remains the preferred solution, while the other established forwards under consideration are regarded as unavailable and the cheaper alternatives are not believed to offer enough improvement. If the Atletico de Madrid deal does not happen, Barcelona will instead look to players already at the club, with Abdelkarim still among those being considered.