Barcelona in trouble after Torres departure: four difficult options under consideration

Deco is now required to find a solution

Barcelona have thrown almost all their weight behind signing Argentine striker Julian Alvarez since last January. But the complications of a deal with Atletico Madrid leave the club with a real problem up front, especially after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.

Spanish newspaper "AS" reported on Saturday that Barcelona face a difficult situation if the Alvarez deal collapses. The need for a striker capable of scoring more than 30 goals has become a pressing priority, and the alternatives on offer look anything but easy.

Read also

A full-back with a winger's spirit: Real Madrid sign Rayo Vallecano's gem

Barcelona reap tens of millions from the transfer market and save them for three targets

Several names have emerged as alternatives: Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez, Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze, and Benfica centre-forward Vangelis Pavlidis, alongside Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal.

Every one of those options carries a question mark, whether over the financial cost or the difficulty of prising them away from their clubs.

Lautaro looks the toughest option financially. The Argentine scored 27 goals last season and ranks among Europe's most prominent strikers in recent years, with an estimated value of around 85 million euros according to "Transfermarkt". Inter, meanwhile, show no sign of parting with him according to "AS".

Deco still holds a store of trust within Barcelona despite the difficulty of the situation, earned through a string of previous moves. The sporting director signed Dani Olmo and Joan Garcia, and struck successful loan deals for Marcus Rashford and Joao Cancelo.

Now, with the season looming, Barca face one of their toughest tests. They made Alvarez their primary target long ago without lining up a clear alternative should the deal for the Atletico striker fall through.