Barcelona are intensifying their search for alternative striker options as negotiations for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez stall, according to TEAMtalk. The Catalan club had previously considered Chelsea’s Joao Pedro and Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi, but both options are now deemed unrealistic.
Sporting director Deco remains in contact with Atletico Madrid regarding Alvarez, however, sources indicate little progress is being made in discussions. This has prompted Barcelona to explore contingency plans as they prepare for potential departures in their own attacking ranks, most notably Ferran Torres.
Barcelona had identified Joao Pedro as an ideal fit for their attack and made a renewed approach to Chelsea this month. However, Chelsea made it clear that the Brazilian is not for sale, with new head coach Xabi Alonso personally informing Pedro of his importance to the club’s long-term plans. Pedro himself is reportedly encouraged by these conversations and committed to Chelsea.
Another Premier League target, Eli Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth, has also been ruled out as a viable option. Barcelona internally valued the young forward between £50-60 million, but believe a fee closer to £100 million would be required to secure his signature, a price they are unwilling to pay given recent inflated transfer fees in the English market, such as Chelsea’s £117 million deal for Morgan Rogers.
With Alvarez proving difficult to acquire, Barcelona are now considering Darwin Nunez and Dusan Vlahovic as potential alternatives. While Alvarez remains their priority, the club is preparing for the possibility of failing to complete a deal before the transfer window closes. The situation leaves Barcelona in a challenging position as they seek to reinforce their attacking options for the upcoming season.
