Barcelona lose another striker option as RB Leipzig swoop for low-cost target | OneFootball

Barcelona will sign one new striker this summer, irrespective of whether Ferran Torres stays or goes to Paris Saint-Germain. For months, they have been pursuing Julian Alvarez, but with Atletico Madrid continuing to hold firm, they have been forced to consider alternative options – although even these are falling by the wayside.

Prior to the 2026 World Cup getting underway, Barcelona showed interest in Harry Kane, although they were ultimately warned off a move by the England international, whose desire was to remain at Bayern Munich. Eli Junior Kroupi was next on the list, but he has also been ruled out as he’s expected to miss 3-4 months after picking up an injury during Bournemouth’s pre-season campaign.

And now another option has fallen away. Barcelona had considered a move for Fisnik Asllani as a low-cost alternative to Alvarez, but despite reports that he was holding out for a move to Catalonia, he has now agreed to sign for RB Leipzig, as per MD.

Asllani will make the move for a fee in the region of €25-30m, which can be considered a coup considering his performances for TSG Hoffenheim last season. Barcelona did like him, but ultimately, he would only have been sought if Alvarez was ruled out – which is something that has not happened yet.

Alvarez or no one for Barcelona

Given that so many Plan B striker targets have fallen away in the last few weeks, it is getting to the point where Barcelona need to sign Alvarez, otherwise they will be left without a new number nine. They cannot afford to go into the 2026-27 season without a recognised centre forward, so it may be the case that they block Torres’ expected switch to PSG in order of retaining his services, even if it means he leaves at the end of his contract in 2027.