Barcelona could make Raphinha their answer at centre-forward if Julian Alvarez deal collapses

Barcelona are preparing to end the transfer window without signing a conventional striker if they cannot complete a deal for Julian Alvarez, with manager Hansi Flick working on a plan to use Raphinha in the central role.

The Brazilian winger’s potential move into attack is not viewed inside the club as a last-minute solution. Flick has been developing Raphinha’s role for some time and believes the player can provide Barcelona with a genuine alternative in the position.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona are unlikely to sign another centre-forward before the transfer window closes unless there is a major change in circumstances. The position was regarded as the club’s absolute priority at the start of the summer, but the club’s sporting management, led by Deco, remains determined to keep the Alvarez deal alive until the final stages.

Barcelona do not want to abandon a transfer they placed at the top of their list. However, their decision not to pursue a different striker is also based on Flick’s strong footballing belief that Raphinha can operate effectively further forward.

The German coach has used the recent period to give the Brazil international a more varied attacking brief. Raphinha’s energy, ability to press and constant movement are qualities Flick believes fit closely with his tactical philosophy.

Flick has previously benefited from similar positional experiments with players such as Lionel Messi at Barcelona and Ousmane Dembele at Paris Saint-Germain. He now believes Raphinha has the attributes required to play as an advanced striker rather than remain exclusively on the wing.

The opening weeks of the season have strengthened that view. Raphinha has scored three goals already, suggesting that his possible deployment through the middle is more than a theoretical idea and could provide Barcelona with tangible attacking options.

Barcelona’s contingency plan would not depend solely on Raphinha. Fermin Lopez has also scored three times, while Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi are regarded as players capable of making a goal-scoring contribution from the front line.

The confidence in Raphinha is also supported by his record since Flick took charge. He scored 34 goals in his first season under the German manager, followed that with 21 in the next campaign and has therefore reached 55 goals across two seasons. His three goals at the beginning of the current season have added further weight to the case for giving him a central role.

Barcelona therefore appear to have constructed two attacking solutions that can work alongside the same strategy. If they complete the signing of Alvarez, Flick would have a world-class number nine. If the move remains unresolved, the manager believes he already has an answer within his squad.

That could see Raphinha, wearing the number 11 shirt, take on a new responsibility and become the striker Barcelona decided not to buy.