LaLiga: Barcelona get caught up looking for a striker
As in the January transfer window, the club insist they will sign a number 9 as cover for the injured Luis Suárez and Ousmane Dembélé.
After Barcelona's fresh injury setback, the club are currently weighing up their attacking options and are keen to bring in cover for their depleted squad.
Cover for Dembélé and Luis Suárez
Once a time frame has been placed on the extent of Ousmane Dembélé's injury - it must be at least five months to be able to sign a player - Barcelona will hit the transfer market in search of an attacking stop-gap, particularly in an attempt to cover the gulf left by Luis Suárez (the Uruguayan had scored 41% of Barça's goals this season).
Los Culés seem intent on doing what they didn't dare to do in January and gamble on a striker that is perhaps not a first choice. They are also keen to avoid a repeat of the Boateng situation. Yet the depletion in their attacking department is likely to force their hand and, after letting Carles Pérez leave, which now seems like a strange decision, a whole pack of names have been linked to the club.
Barcelona's attacking options
La Vanguardia have reported links with Alavés striker Lucas Pérez, who was close to a move to the Camp Nou in 2016 while he was at Deportivo - Luis Enrique ruled out the option in favour of Paco Alcácer, who is now at Villarreal. Signing Lucas Pérez would come as a surprise, although not quite as much as Ángel, a 33-year-old striker who is not even a regular starter at Getafe.
Other targets include Rodrigo, Barcelona's main target in January, Willian José, Kevin Gameiro and Loren from Betis. I