Flick still waiting as Deco pushes to deliver Barça’s new striker | OneFootball

Deco will push until the deadline to give Hansi Flick the centre-forward he has asked for over months. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the coach has worked within Barça’s finances since 2024 and wants only a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.

He made the plea in June, July and August, and none has arrived. The loss of Lewandowski’s 120 goals in four seasons was compounded by Ferran Torres’s exit, 65 goals, after a Paris Saint-Germain agreement. Deco said Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi cover Torres’s wide role, deals done before the club requested his sale.

After the Gamper, Deco said a move was likely but could not say who, how much or when. The ideal would be Julián Álvarez at about €100m, a figure linked to Atlético, before Sunday’s 21:30 flight to Elche. Any alternative must be cleared by Flick.

Flick repeated on Wednesday that they are still looking for a striker, praised Deco’s work and said he hopes it will be resolved after a 2-1 win over Al Ahly. Deco said even a good signing would struggle to replace Lewandowski, so pre-season minutes have gone to Barcelona Atlètic striker Hamza Abdelkarim.

Abdelkarim is the top scorer and has played every game. Flick praised his movement and hold-up play, noting a fourth goal and an early double in Birmingham. Even so, he wants a proven forward.

Barça face usual registration constraints before La Liga starts, but Flick dismissed excuses and said his team will be ready in Elche.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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