Barcelona cut striker shortlist to three star names
FT Desk
- 13 Feb 2022 16:00 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona have narrowed down their summer striker shortlist to three names, according to Fichajes.net.
The Blaugrana were one of the most active teams in Europe during the January transfer window as they brought in four new players.
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Three of these were attackers as Ferran Torres arrived from Man City for €55 million, Adama Traore from Wolves on loan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal on a free transfer.
Manager Xavi wants to sign a world-class forward in the summer to complete a young, dynamic forward line.
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According to Fichajes, Xavi has now narrowed down his options to three names.
The preferred option is Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland.
Haaland is arguably the hottest young property in Europe after an incredible two years at Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund resisted all interest in Haaland in the summer of 2021 but it is widely expected that the attacker will move on at the end of the 2021-22 campaign when a release clause believed to be around €75 million will be activated in his contract.
Virtually every top club in Europe is interested in signing the 21-year-old, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Haaland is understood to prefer a move to Spain but Real Madrid are considered to be the favourites right now.
If Haaland is unobtainable, then Barcelona have two alternatives.
The first is Bayern Munich veteran Robert Lewandowski. The Poland international turns 34 this year but is still the most prolific player in world football.
This season he has 37 goals in just 30 games for Bayern and he is open to a new challenge with his contract at Bayern expiring in 2023. Bayern, though, would like to keep him for at least one more year.
The second alternative for Barcelona is Real Sociedad attacker Alexander Isak.
Isak is regarded as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe and he scored 17 La Liga goals last season. This term he has struggled a touch, scoring only four times. Like Haaland, he also has a €75m release clause in his contract.
