Barcelona consider January striker move as Julian Alvarez deal remains blocked

Barcelona have effectively put their search for a new striker on hold until January, with Julian Alvarez still their preferred target and Atletico Madrid’s refusal to negotiate preventing a move before the summer transfer window closes.

The La Liga club are preparing for the possibility of strengthening their attack during the winter window if their goalscoring record, results, injuries and overall development make a new centre-forward necessary. They also want to preserve enough financial flexibility under the competition’s financial fair play rules to act if a high-quality opportunity becomes available.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the summer transfer window is due to close next Tuesday. Barcelona still have several outstanding matters involving both potential arrivals and departures, but the club’s sporting and executive departments are already planning for the next phase of the season.

Unless there is a major departure or an unexpected breakthrough in the situation involving Alvarez, Barcelona are not expected to make any significant further additions this summer.

Head coach Hansi Flick has been highly satisfied with his players’ performances in their opening two La Liga matches. Barcelona defeated Elche and Athletic Club in those games, scoring seven goals without conceding.

That attacking output has been particularly encouraging given that the club did not replace the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, even though strengthening the forward line had been regarded as a priority by both the coaching staff and the club’s executives.

Alvarez was identified as the leading, and effectively only, candidate to reinforce the attack. He remains Barcelona’s preferred option, but Atletico Madrid’s unwillingness to enter negotiations has halted the club’s plans.

With Atletico maintaining that position, and Barcelona’s existing forwards producing strongly, Raphinha has been operating as a false nine and has scored three goals. Fermin Lopez has also scored three times.

Those performances have led Barcelona to stop pursuing another striker during the current transfer window. The club’s position is understood to be clear: Alvarez or nobody.

That stance does not rule out a move for a traditional centre-forward in January. Barcelona will assess how the team develops over the coming months, including its goalscoring figures, the impact of injuries and which players become available in the market.

For that reason, the Catalan club do not expect to complete a major deal during the final days of the current window. Instead, they want to retain room within their financial fair play limits in case they need to sign a top-level striker in the next transfer period.

Barcelona insist their financial calculations would allow them to do so. A significant sale could provide further flexibility, with the club hoping to receive between 25m euros and 30m euros for Marc Casado. Hector Fort has been valued at about 15m euros.

If either departure, or another comparable transaction, is completed, Barcelona would not completely rule out making an additional signing before the window closes if Flick decides that reinforcement is required.

For now, however, the club’s unusual plan is to continue with its current attacking options, monitor the team’s progress and keep its resources available for a possible January striker move.