“Barcelona without natural forwards after the departures of Lewandowski and Torres.”

Barcelona faces an unusual situation as it begins the new season, following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. At this moment, Hansi Flick does not have any natural senior center forwards in the first team, raising concerns about the squad's ability to score goals. Lewandowski left the club at the end of last season, while Ferran, approached by PSG, requested to leave. The Spaniard was presented as a new player for the French club, leaving Barça without forwards before the start of the campaign.

As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Atlético de Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is Barcelona's primary target in the transfer market. However, until that operation materializes, Flick has several internal options at his disposal. Hamza Abdelkarim, just 18 years old, is currently the only recognized forward in the squad. The young player had the opportunity to integrate into the first team after a strong season with the Juvenil A team and a participation in the World Cup, standing out with two goals in a friendly against Birmingham City.

In addition to Abdelkarim, the team may have to consider less conventional solutions. Dani Olmo has been playing as a false nine, while Lamine Yamal has been tested in central positions. During pre-season, Flick mentioned that Lamine is capable of adapting to this role, having already played as a false nine in training matches. Other options include Ebrima Tunkara and Shane Kluivert, although the latter has returned to Barça Atletic, while Tunkara remains in the first team and could be used occasionally in this position.

The new signings, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, provide even more options for Flick. The coach highlighted the versatility of both players, who can operate on either wing or through the middle. Gordon already has experience playing centrally from his time at Newcastle, and his speed can pose a different threat as a forward, especially when the team looks to exploit spaces. Adeyemi, for his part, also feels comfortable moving across the entire front line, despite not being a natural striker.

Although Barcelona has options, the need for a fixed striker persists. Flick's flexibility allows the team not to be completely helpless while awaiting the arrival of a new number 9. Players like Lamine, Olmo, Gordon, and Adeyemi can play centrally, depending on the opponent and the type of game. However, these alternatives should be viewed as temporary solutions, as none of them can be considered a true replacement. Lamine's influence, for example, is more significant when he has the freedom to create, rather than taking on the responsibilities of leading the attack week in and week out. Therefore, the search for Alvarez or another striker remains a priority for Barcelona before the transfer window closes.