Barcelona's Striker Search: Five Alternatives to Julian Alvarez

Barcelona’s pursuit of Julian Alvarez has all but collapsed, forcing a sharp rethink at the heart of their summer planning for a new No. 9.

The Atletico Madrid forward had been elevated to priority status, the chosen man to lead the line in Hansi Flick’s first full season. Now the deal is described as “99% off the table”. Atletico are not softening their stance, the conditions have barely moved, and inside the club there is a growing acceptance: Alvarez is not coming.

So the search begins again.

Barcelona still want a striker who brings goals, movement and variety in the final third, someone who can change the geometry of their attack rather than simply finish chances. Replacing a profile like Alvarez, though, will not be simple, either on the pitch or in the market.

Five names have emerged. Some are headline acts, some are bets on what they might become. All come with complications.

Georges Mikautadze: Deco’s choice, Flick’s doubt

Inside the sporting department, Georges Mikautadze has moved close to the top of the list.

The Villarreal forward has a powerful advocate: Deco. Barcelona’s sporting director believes the 25-year-old could add a sharp, inventive edge to the attack after an impressive 2025/26 campaign in which he scored 15 goals and supplied six assists.

Those numbers, and the way he produced them, have reportedly convinced Deco that Mikautadze can bring something different to Flick’s front line.

Flick is not there yet.

The coach is understood to have doubts about the fit. He “does not see it clearly” for now, and that hesitation matters. A major signing at centre-forward will demand alignment between the bench and the boardroom, especially at the kind of price Villarreal are expected to demand.

Any move is likely to start at €70 million. For a player the manager is not fully convinced by, that figure turns an interesting idea into a high-risk operation. Deco’s admiration keeps Mikautadze in the conversation, but the internal split could ultimately kill the move.

Viktor Gyokeres: goals, power – and a heavy bill

Viktor Gyokeres offers a very different profile.

The Swedish striker is entering his prime years and has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most dependable scorers. His situation could open up depending on how Arsenal reshape their attack, yet even then, he would not come cheap.

Gyokeres is more than a penalty-box finisher. He drifts wide, attacks space, drives with the ball and can create for others. On paper, those traits mesh neatly with Flick’s aggressive, vertical attacking ideas.

There are still questions. His link-up play at the very highest level divides opinion, and there are doubts over how consistently he can knit moves together in tight games against elite opposition. His goalscoring record, though, is hard to ignore.

The real barrier is financial. Gyokeres would arrive as a ready-made starter, not a project, and the fee and salary would reflect that. Barcelona would be paying top-tier money for immediate impact, making him one of the costliest options on the table.

Lautaro Martinez: ideal on the pitch, near-impossible off it

Every time Barcelona look for a striker, Lautaro Martinez’s name resurfaces.

The Inter Milan captain has been on their radar for years. This summer is no different: Barcelona have made an enquiry to understand his situation.

It went no further.

Inter have little incentive to negotiate. Lautaro remains central to their sporting project and is one of their most influential players. There is no sign the Italian club want or need to cash in, which turns any potential move into a near-impossible puzzle.

At 28, Lautaro still has several elite seasons ahead of him. He brings proven goals, high-level experience and a track record of performing in big matches. From a purely footballing perspective, he ticks almost every box.

From a financial and negotiating standpoint, he might be the hardest deal of all. Barcelona like the player. Inter like him even more.

Victor Osimhen: the blockbuster option

If Barcelona want the most explosive option, they look at Victor Osimhen.

The Nigerian forward remains one of the most coveted strikers in the game. European giants continue to monitor him, while Saudi Arabian clubs have shown they are ready to commit enormous sums to lure him away.

The scale of the market around Osimhen is underlined by recent reports that Galatasaray rejected a €150 million offer from Al-Hilal for the 27-year-old. Arsenal have also been linked, which tells its own story.

Osimhen brings raw pace, power, aerial dominance and a relentless threat in front of goal. In a Barcelona side that often pins opponents back and leaves space to attack behind defensive lines, his ability to burst into those channels could be devastating.

The problem is obvious. Any move would require one of the biggest financial commitments of the club’s current era, in both fee and wages. Barcelona would have to decide whether Osimhen is the player worth stretching the project for, perhaps more than any other signing.

Nicolo Tresoldi: the gamble on tomorrow

Nicolo Tresoldi is the wildcard in the discussion.

The 21-year-old German forward at Club Brugge does not yet carry the global profile of the other names, but his age, frame and output make him an intriguing alternative.

In 2025/26, Tresoldi played 58 matches in all competitions and scored 23 goals. At 6ft 1in, he offers a solid physical presence and still has clear room to grow, both technically and tactically.

His contract runs until 2029, and Brugge value him at around €45–50 million. That is not small money, especially for a player without deep experience at the very top level. Barcelona have already made contact, aware that this would be a calculated risk rather than a guaranteed solution.

Yet compared with Lautaro, Osimhen or Gyokeres, Tresoldi represents a different type of investment. You buy his present and his future. If Flick and the sporting department believe his development curve will stay steep inside a bigger structure, he could evolve into a long-term answer to the No. 9 question.

Alvarez is slipping away. The decision now is whether Barcelona chase another headline name at any cost, or back their judgement on a different kind of centre-forward to shape the next era.