Ferran Torres is about to leave, Julian Alvarez hasn't been signed yet—how will Barca handle the striker problem?

Barcelona is entering the final weeks of the summer transfer window with a significant gap in their attack. After Robert Lewandowski's departure and Ferran Torres moving closer to Paris Saint-Germain, Julian Alvarez remains the top target, but signing him is becoming increasingly difficult.

Barcelona began the 2026 summer transfer window with a very clear priority: finding a new center-forward.

Robert Lewandowski has left Camp Nou after his contract expired and joined Chicago Fire in MLS. This leaves Ferran Torres as the only senior striker option remaining in Hansi Flick's squad.

But the situation is changing rapidly. Barca has reached an agreement in principle with Paris Saint-Germain for the transfer of Ferran Torres for a fee of around €50 million. The deal is expected to be completed in the coming days.

Once Torres leaves, Barca will lose another player capable of playing as a center-forward, while their primary target Julian Alvarez is drifting further out of reach.

Throughout the summer, sources from Barca have insisted that Julian Alvarez is the club's only target for the forward line. Barca highly values the Argentine striker's versatility—he can score, create chances, and operate across the attacking system.

However, Atletico Madrid remains firm in their stance. CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin previously stated that Atletico is not interested in listening to any offers for Alvarez, even those reaching €200 million. Meanwhile, Barca admits that valuation is far beyond their financial capabilities.

Alvarez has returned to Atletico after joining Argentina for the 2026 World Cup. He appeared at the club's training center earlier this week and completed his first full session on August 12.

Barca hasn't given up hope yet. The club's management continues to closely monitor the situation and is ready to wait for any change from Alvarez or Atletico. However, optimism at Camp Nou is waning. Barca understands that if Atletico doesn't change their stance, they will have to quickly move on to other options.

If not Alvarez, who will Barcelona choose?

Barca can still look for another striker on the market.

One name that has been monitored is Victor Osimhen, but there is no indication yet that Barca has made concrete contact with the Nigerian striker or Galatasaray. Osimhen joined the Turkish side from Napoli for around €75 million last summer.

Additionally, Barcelona could consider more affordable options.Jonathan Burkardt of Eintracht Frankfurt is a notable candidate. The German forward has good positioning and can hold off defenders to find space in the box.

Last season, Burkardt scored four Bundesliga goals from inside the six-yard box. The previous season, while at Mainz, he scored nine goals from that area. However, Burkardt is not yet seen as a complete option like Alvarez.

Another name is Fisnik Asllani, Hoffenheim's striker. The 24-year-old Kosovan scored 10 goals and added seven assists in the Bundesliga last season. Asllani was reportedly set to move to RB Leipzig during this transfer window, but the deal collapsed due to medical concerns.

Among the alternatives, Georges Mikautadze might be the most notable. The Georgian striker impressed with Lyon in the 2024/25 season, scoring 17 goals and providing 11 assists in 47 appearances. Last summer, he moved to Villarreal for around €30 million—a club record. In the 2025/26 La Liga, Mikautadze scored 13 goals and contributed 6 assists. Only Kylian Mbappe, Lamine Yamal, Vedat Muriqi, and Vinicius Junior had more goal contributions than Mikautadze in La Liga last season.

At 25, Mikautadze is entering his prime. If Barca can't get Alvarez, the Villarreal forward is considered one of the most viable options to bridge the quality gap.

Could Lamine Yamal become a "false nine"?

Barca also has another option that doesn't necessarily require spending money on the transfer market: using a "false nine". This role helped Lionel Messi create his glorious years at Camp Nou after Pep Guardiola moved him centrally in 2009.

Barca currently has several players who can take on this role, such as Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, or Lamine Yamal. Yamal usually plays on the right wing, but the 19-year-old has often been used in central positions.

In an interview with El Pais in June, Yamal even said he envisions himself moving into central areas in the future.

"Eventually I'll play there, in the central zones. When I play on the wing, opponents can easily put three players on me. But when I play centrally, they can't do that as easily,"Yamal shared.

Coach Flick has also experimented with Yamal in a central role during the preseason. "Yamal has played one or two games in the center for us. He's a fantastic player and can certainly adapt, but for now the focus remains on him playing on the right wing,"Flick said.

Besides Yamal, Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez have also been used as "false nines." Raphinha could also be moved centrally.

Barca also has two new signings Anthony Gordon and Karim AdeyemiDespite having many tactical options, using a "false nine" is still unlikely to fully solve Hansi Flick's problem.

Lewandowski and Torres combined for

43 goals last season . Barca can certainly expect the remaining players to share the goal-scoring burden, but filling that entire gap is no easy task.There will be matches where Barca needs a true center-forward—a player who can act as a focal point in the box, draw defenders, and convert chances into goals. That's why signing a new striker is considered

Barcelona's top priority since the end of last season , when the club decided to let Lewandowski leave.If Barca ultimately cannot get Alvarez and fails to find a suitable alternative, they risk entering the new season without adding a top-class center-forward. That would leave Hansi Flick facing a major challenge.

Barcelona still has two new signings Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi