FC Barcelona's sporting area has officially started exploring alternatives, with negotiations with Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez seemingly collapsed. Miguel Angel Gil Marin's decision not to negotiate with Barcelona has forced Deco and Hansi Flick to broaden their options to find a quality striker for Barcelona.
Barcelona are looking at 5 alternatives and according to multiple reports negotiations have advanced with few of them.
1. Georges Mikautadze (Villarreal)
Most realistic option
Estimated cost: approx. €60M-€65M
The Georgian has had a good first season in La Liga and is the main plan B option for Deco. At about €60 million his price is much more feasible than that of Alvarez. Nevertheless, the transfer still needs to be accepted internally. Although Deco is willing to bet on Mikautadze's profile, Hansi Flick doesn't seem entirely convinced that the 25-year-old will be ready to take charge in the front line of Barca.
2. Viktor Gykeres (Arsenal)
An opportunity dependent on dominoes to fall
Estimated cost: High
The physically imposing striker of Arsenal continues to be an effective scorer in the prime of his career. But for the moment any deal with Barcelona will only happen when something occurs at the Emirates Stadium, namely if Arsenal signs a central attacker.
Although his physical ability is a characteristic valued by Flick, the issue of his capacity to move with the ball against compact La Liga defences is the subject of debate at the club.
3. Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)
Nearly impossible option
Estimated cost: The premium value of the transfer market
The Argentine, an undisputed starter in Inter's squad, is one of the players who has been longed for by Barca for years. Despite this, it will be very complicated to reach a good agreement in this window due to Inter's decision not to sell their star player and the economic capabilities the club currently doesn't have in the final stretch of the window.
4. Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
Financially unfeasible option
Estimated cost: A prohibitive fee and an unfeasible salary
The Nigerian center forward's qualities are more than demonstrated but the high cost is prohibitive in any case. Between a high buyout clause and a salary beyond the financial possibilities, transferring Osimhen to Spotify Camp Nou would affect Barcelona's strict Financial Fair Play.
5. Nicolas Tresoldi (Hannover 96)
Wildcard in development
Estimated cost: Low
German-Italian center forward Nicolas Tresoldi is a very inexpensive player with a high potential for progression. He is strong both with and without the ball and seems to know what his German coach wants.
But the consensus inside the club is that his current developmental stage still prevents him from carrying the attacking burden for Barcelona.
Summing up
Barcelona has until the transfer window closes to get to the point and they must be fast about it. If Deco somehow convinces Atletico, the negotiations for Alvarez could move very fast, but that scenario is looking fairy tale as time moves on. Atletico will not sell Alvarez to Barcelona.
The above mentioned options have been greatly linked to Barcelona and advanced negotiations have already begun with few. But there is no gaurantee anyone will make it to Catalonia Sporting director Deco may look to achieve a market-based acquisition in order to prevent facing the season lacking a clear figure in attack.
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