Three ways Barcelona could line up next season if they do not sign a striker | OneFootball

Barcelona have spent much of the summer so far targeting Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid have not been open to negotiations of any kind.

The club even looked at Eli Junior Kroupi as an alternative, but that avenue was quickly closed after the Frenchman suffered an injury.

It now increasingly looks like, should Barça not be able to sign their preferred target, Alvarez, they are most likely to go into the new season without reinforcing the striker position.

That would not leave Hansi Flick without solutions. Barcelona already have three credible ways to structure the attack, each offering a different balance between goals, pressing and creativity.

Ferran Torres as the natural No. 9

Ferran Torres is the clearest solution because he already understands the position and has repeatedly played through the middle for Barcelona.

His movement is his biggest strength. He attacks the space between centre-backs, makes sharp runs across the defensive line and has developed a stronger instinct inside the penalty area.

He has had two excellent seasons under Hansi Flick, proving to be important both as a starter and as a super-sub.

A front three of Anthony Gordon or Raphinha, Ferran and Lamine Yamal would also have a sensible balance.

Gordon and Lamine could stretch the pitch, while Ferran concentrates on attacking the box rather than dropping deep to dominate possession.

The concern is that Ferran does not consistently offer the physical reference of a traditional elite striker.

Ferran could be the first-choice striker, if he does not leave for PSG. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Against teams defending in a low block, Barcelona could miss someone capable of pinning both centre-backs, winning aerial duels and turning hopeful crosses into genuine chances.

There is also the concern of consistency with the Spaniard. Ferran has often tended to have spells where he cannot stop scoring goals, followed by spells where he simply cannot buy a goal.

However, at 26, he is at an age where most strikers tend to enter their prime years. He is familiar with the system, accepts defensive responsibility and has already shown he can produce goals.

As long as Ferran stays and the PSG interest does not materialise into a transfer, there is a good chance he is the starting striker for Flick, and this is a very viable solution.

Anthony Gordon as a mobile striker

Anthony Gordon would be the more aggressive alternative. He is naturally a winger, but he has experience operating centrally and has previously been used as a striker when his team required greater speed and pressing through the middle.

His profile is built around direct running, intensity and exploiting space behind defenders rather than playing with his back to goal.

Barça could line up with Raphinha on the left, Gordon through the middle and Lamine on the right. That attack, on paper, could be devastating in transition.

It would be perfectly suited to Champions League matches in particular, where opposition teams tend to push their defensive lines high.

Gordon would be an interesting solution. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Getty Images)

Gordon would also lead the press with real energy. His willingness to chase defenders, make repeated runs and drag opponents into uncomfortable areas could open central spaces for Dani Olmo, Pedri or Fermin Lopez.

The drawback would appear against opponents who sit deeper. Gordon is not a natural penalty-box striker, so Barcelona could dominate territory without having a reliable target between the posts.

His best qualities become more dangerous when there is space to attack, not when he is surrounded by defenders in a crowded area.

This option should therefore be used selectively. It could be extremely effective in Champions League away games or against adventurous domestic opponents, but less convincing as a permanent solution.

Dani Olmo as a false nine

The most tactically innovative option would be Olmo operating as a false nine. Flick has already tested this idea, and it worked because the Spaniard dropped between the lines, created numerical superiority in midfield and pulled defenders away from their positions.

In one such performance last season, he helped Barcelona control possession, created four chances and assisted a goal while operating centrally.

A line-up featuring Gordon, Olmo and Lamine, with Pedri and Fermin arriving from midfield, would give Barcelona extraordinary technical quality.

Olmo has done well as a false nine in the past. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Olmo could connect the attack, combine in tight areas and create room for runners attacking beyond him. His natural intelligence makes him a potent weapon.

The weakness is obvious: Barcelona would have no genuine striker occupying the box. Everything would depend on midfielders and wingers timing their movements correctly.

This makes Olmo a solution in certain game states, but he cannot be Barça’s starting number nine in every single game.

Barcelona can survive without another signing, but they should not pretend all three solutions offer the same thing.

Ferran provides the strongest overall balance, Gordon offers speed and chaos, while Olmo gives Flick control and tactical unpredictability.

Between the three, they can do the job for Flick for a season. However, the club should still look for a new number nine, and it remains to be seen how things play out.