Barcelona face striker dilemma - could they cope without one?

Barcelona, the reigning Spanish champions, currently lack an established striker for their first-team squad. The club's recent summer transfers have focused on strengthening various other areas of their squad. Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have added pace and width to their attack, while 18-year-old Jesse Bisiwu has been brought in as a longer-term investment. However, the absence of a designated striker could pose a challenge for Barcelona as they prepare to face Elche in their opening La Liga match on August 23rd.

Barcelona had hoped to sign Robert Lewandowski from Chicago Fire, but the experienced Polish striker opted to leave the MLS for Major League Soccer. Ferran Torres' move to Paris St-Germain for about £42.7 million also leaves a void in the team's attacking options. The club's preferred solution appears to be signing Argentine international Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, but Atletico has made it clear that they will not sell Alvarez for even 200 million euros.

Hansi Flick, the manager of Barcelona, acknowledges the need to address the situation but believes there are options within his current team. Lamine Yamal, a 22-year-old Moroccan, has emerged as a strong contender, showing his versatility by playing as a false nine. Other options include Dani Olmo, Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, and the promising 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim. Barcelona could also opt for a more fluid forward line, rotating players rather than relying on a single striker to hold down that position.

Alternative strikers being linked to Barcelona include Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres, the 28-year-old Swedish forward who recently signed a contract with the north London club. Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez and Sporting's Colombian forward Luis Suarez are also potential targets, but the club's management is actively working to secure a new signing before the transfer window closes on September 1st.