Barcelona coach Quique Setien has confirmed that the club is looking to sign a new striker, with primary ‘number nine’ Luis Suarez set to be sidelined with a knee injury until May.
His absence has left the Catalans short of a recognised central forward to lead the line, with Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Ansu Fati all filling different roles.
Barça were recently linked with prolific Girona front-man Cristhian Stuani as short-term cover for Suarez, while rumours of much more ambitious interest in Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have also emerged this week.
Valencia and Spain forward Rodrigo is another, while Barça are rumoured to specifically have a €30m budget set aside, a story intertwined with potential interest in Timo Werner.
When new coach Setien was quizzed about signing a striker by the media this week, he confirmed that the club is thinking about it and has been considering options.
“It’s true we’re speaking about it, but we still have to move things on a little bit,” the 61-year-old is quoted as saying by SPORT.
Barça only have a limited period of time if they are to turn any plans into reality, with the winter transfer window closing in Spain next Friday (31 January), a little over a week away.
This time last season, Barcelona signed former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng as short-term cover up front. The midfielder-turned-striker arrived on a half-season loan from Sassuolo, but he played only four times in all competitions and failed to score.
On the pitch, Barcelona are next in action on Wednesday evening against UD Ibiza in the Copa del Rey round of 32. The island club was only formed in 2015 and currently plays league football in Segunda Division B, the third tier of the Spanish pyramid, following successive promotions.
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