Julian Alvarez or nobody: Barcelona willing to go without a signing if priority option fails | OneFootball

Barcelona have been on a striker hunt since the start of the summer transfer window, with the club focusing on getting Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid.

However, Los Colchoneros have refused to negotiate with the Catalan club and have insisted that the 26-year-old is not for sale, especially to Barça.

Meanwhile, Barça have gone through various striker options like Joao Pedro, Eli Junior Kroupi, Luis Suarez, Lautaro Martinez and Viktor Gyokeres, among other names.

Now, according to Cadena SER, Barça have made a firm decision over their striker search: if Julian Alvarez cannot be signed, the club will not bring in another centre-forward this summer.

Julian remains the only target

The Catalans have reviewed the market and concluded that none of the available alternatives justify moving away from their priority target.

Hansi Flick still wants Alvarez, and the club are prepared to wait until the end of the window.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has contacted the player, but Alvarez has no intention of joining the Premier League side. His preference remains Barcelona.

Barcelona will either sign Julian Alvarez or no one. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

That leaves Barça willing to keep the door open until the final days of the market, even though Atletico continue to resist any negotiation.

Alternatives judged either too expensive or not good enough

Barcelona have considered other names, but none have convinced enough to justify a major investment.

Harry Kane, Lautaro Martinez and Joao Pedro are described as financially inaccessible.

Cheaper options such as Nicolo Tresoldi and Eli Junior Kroupi are liked, but the club do not believe they would improve the current squad enough to make the operation worthwhile.

Barça do not simply want to sign a striker because the position looks thin on paper. If they are going to spend, they want someone who clearly raises the level.

Flick prepared to use internal solutions

If Alvarez does not arrive, Flick is prepared to work with what he already has.

Flick will continue with the options he has right now. (Photo by Francisco Macia/Getty Images)

Raphinha, Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and Dani Olmo can all operate centrally depending on the game, while Hamza Abdelkarim remains the natural young No. 9 in the squad.

That gives Flick flexibility, even if none of those options offers exactly the same profile as Alvarez.

That explains why Barça are willing to resist panic buys. The logic is also easy to understand from the club’s perspective.

The club have spent years paying for short-term solutions that did not truly fit. If Alvarez is the only striker considered capable of materially improving the team, then forcing another expensive move would make little sense.

There is still risk, of course. Barcelona have already lost significant goals from last season, and going into the campaign without a proven senior centre-forward would place more responsibility on the rest of the attack.

Choosing to wait for Alvarez is therefore a huge gamble. It remains to be seen whether the club take the risk of going into the new season without a striker signing.