The four strikers Barcelona are following for the summer in order of priority | OneFootball

After the signing of Anthony Gordon, FC Barcelona’s next significant investment is expected to have a very specific address: the No. 9 position.

For the last four years, Robert Lewandowski gave the club certainty in the box: a reference point, a finisher and a striker who thrived on service.

However, the Pole has now left the club, and Barça are preparing for the next phase of Hansi Flick’s attack.

The names being monitored tell a story of their own. It is not about signing a backup. It is about finding the face of the frontline.

Julian Alvarez: the dream target

The No. 1 target (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

At the top of the list for Barcelona is Julian Alvarez. The Argentine is seen as the most complete fit. He is intense without the ball, intelligent between the lines, ruthless in the area and versatile enough to play anywhere in attack.

The difficulty is obvious, and it comes in the shape of Atletico Madrid. They are in no mood to make life easier for one of their title rivals. They have already rejected a €100 million proposal from the La Liga champions and taken to social media to mock the bid.

For Flick, though, Alvarez is the cleanest footballing answer. He is not just a striker, he is a system player. He may not offer the same kind of box presence as Lewandowski, but he makes up for it with mobility, on and off the ball.

Negotiations look set to be long drawn out with Atletico, but Barcelona will be happy if they can walk away with the Argentinian striker.

Joao Pedro: The Plan B

The preferred alternative. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Of course, it is not always a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket, especially when the one holding it is a club like Atletico Madrid.

If Alvarez is the priority, Joao Pedro is the logical Plan B. Similar in style, the Brazilian offers mobility, combination play and the capacity to operate in a number of different positions.

The problem here is Chelsea’s stance. The London club do not want to sell him and Xabi Alonso is said to be planning around him, effectively ruling him out.

Victor Osimhen: A different profile

Plan C. (Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images)

Then comes Victor Osimhen, the most explosive profile and a very different striker to the other two. He is a pure striker in conventional terms: aggressive, powerful and with the physicality to attack crosses and punish space.

The real hurdle with the Nigerian, however, is the financial side of the deal. Galatasaray are unlikely to let him go for a low fee, and his wages further complicate the puzzle.

Although another great stylistic fit, Osimhen to Barcelona seems unrealistic this summer.

Harry Kane: The prestige option

Kane remains well-liked at Barcelona. (Photo by Reinaldo Coddou H./Getty Images)

Finally, there is Harry Kane. The Bayern Munich and England striker is perhaps the most romantic name on the list, but also the least likely option. His current deal runs until 2027 but a renewal with the Bavarians is already in the works.

If Barcelona do go after him, it would not be too dissimilar to the Lewandowski deal four years ago, and he would arrive at a similar age as well.

No one on the list knows how to score goals better than Kane, but he is perhaps the least likely system fit compared to the other strikers, especially off the ball.

Kane has never been the most mobile striker around, and that is not going to improve with age. He would still thrive in Blaugrana, but for Flick, it would come at a cost.

That leaves Barça with a clear hierarchy but no easy road. Alvarez is the dream. Joao Pedro is the like-for-like alternative. Osimhen is the power play. Kane is the prestige gamble.

And if all four doors stay closed, Flick may have to improvise: Anthony Gordon as a central forward, plus a lower-cost No. 9 to complete the squad.

Barcelona want a striker. The question is whether the market will allow them to sign one this summer.