Report: The Julian Alvarez alternatives Barcelona are considering, including Man United striker | OneFootball

FC Barcelona are stepping up their search for a new striker after Atletico Madrid made it clear that Julian Alvarez will not be sold under any circumstances, reports SPORT.

Atleti CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin publicly rejected Barcelona’s pursuit, insisting the club would not entertain offers of €100 million, €150 million or even €200 million for the Argentine forward.

With Robert Lewandowski already gone and Ferran Torres still linked with a move to PSG, Barcelona’s sporting department is now evaluating several alternative targets.

Eli Junior Kroupi tops the list

As per the report, one of the names most appreciated by sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick is Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi.

The 20-year-old French forward impressed during his first Premier League season, scoring 13 goals, but Bournemouth are demanding around €100 million, a figure the Blaugrana consider out of reach.

Barcelona admire Eli Junior Kroupi. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Chelsea’s Joao Pedro is another player admired internally after producing 20 goals and nine assists last season. However, the Blues are also believed to value the Brazilian at around €100 million, making a move unlikely.

Lautaro, Asllani and Sesko also considered

The report further states that Barcelona have also discussed Lautaro Martinez, although the Inter Milan captain has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in Italy, making any move highly unlikely.

A more realistic option could be Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani. The Kosovo international is expected to leave the Bundesliga club this summer after recording 11 goals and eight assists last season.

His reported €29 million release clause makes him one of the more affordable options, and he sees Barça as one of his preferred destinations.

Meanwhile, Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko remains another player admired by Barcelona’s sporting department.

Barcelona admire Benjamin Sesko. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The Slovenian striker scored 12 goals during his first season at Old Trafford, but the English club’s asking price is expected to be prohibitively high after investing heavily to sign him.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane is no longer viewed as a realistic target after indicating his desire to extend his stay at Bayern Munich.

Lower-cost alternatives

At the same time, Barcelona are also considering several more economical solutions.

Dusan Vlahovic is currently available on a free transfer after leaving Juventus and is waiting to see whether Barça make a move before committing elsewhere.

Jhon Duran and Darwin Nunez have also emerged as possible opportunities. Both forwards could become available after falling down the pecking order at their respective clubs in Saudi Arabia, although each would represent a different type of sporting gamble.

Deco unwilling to rush

While Alvarez remains Barcelona’s preferred choice in an ideal scenario, the La Liga champions now accept that the operation is becoming increasingly unrealistic.

As a result, Deco will continue assessing the market carefully, prioritising value and long-term sporting fit rather than committing a major transfer fee simply to replace Lewandowski.

Barcelona are expected to remain patient before deciding who will lead the attack next season.