Barcelona have set a limit of 48 hours within which they will sign a new striker, loan or transfer, as a replacement to injured Luis Suarez.
The recent meeting between Barca’s Quique Setien, Eric Abidal and Ramon Planes revealed that the club is on a pursuit to sign an immediate replacement for Suarez. With the recent defeat to Valencia, where Barcelona struggled to score goals despite having 70% of the possession shows the effect the lack of a proper no. 9 can have on the team.
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This desperation of finding an immediate solution has led the club to set a 48-hour deadline to announce a new striker. Sports reports that even though the transfer window ends next Friday, the Spanish giants are planning to finalize a signing by Monday.
Valencia striker, Rodrigo Moreno, is currently the top contender as negotiations with the club remain hopeful as Barca plan to sign the player on a loan deal as a short-term replacement until the summer transfer window, where they can even look to sign him permanently if he delivers.
Director of communications at Valencia, Roman Bellver, recently revealed that the club are preparing for the likely scenario of Rodrigo’s exit with other clubs besides Blaugrana among interested parties.
"“last year there was interest in Rodrigo and there is now, too. For the good players there’s always interest and that’s the case with Rodrigo as well.” He revealed."
Blaugrana are also looking at other candidates that are scouted as potential replacements, among which Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder is also heavily linked, though the asking price for the Frenchman (double the price Monaco paid Sevilla which was €40 million) is said to be complicating his move to the Nou Camp.
Many reports also claim that the Catalan club are planning to sign Lautaro Martinez in January itself, as Barca’s desperate need of a striker has preponed their initial plan of signing the Argentine in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also among the players scouted and remains as an option.
Who do you think Barca will sign as their new striker?