Barcelona have decided to make the signing of a new number 9 a top priority ahead of the next European season, as Robert Lewandowski is not expected to remain at the club long-term. While Harry Kane has been linked with the Catalan giants in recent months, he is currently not the main target.
According to journalist Alfredo Martínez, Barcelona’s board has already defined its preferred profile for the center-forward position and Julián Álvarez has emerged as the club’s primary objective.
Julián Álvarez Leads Barcelona’s Shortlist
The Argentine striker is enjoying an outstanding spell with Atlético de Madrid and is regarded internally as one of the most complete forwards in La Liga. This season, Álvarez has registered 11 goals and five assists in 25 appearances, underlining his importance in Diego Simeone’s system.
Barcelona believe Álvarez’s mobility, pressing ability, and age profile make him a better long-term fit than Kane, especially as the club looks to gradually refresh its attacking core.
Quick Adaptation to Spanish Football
Álvarez joined Atlético last season and adapted immediately to Spanish football. In his debut campaign with the Madrid-based club, the former Manchester City and River Plate striker recorded an impressive 29 goals in 57 matches, confirming his status as one of Europe’s most reliable attackers.
His consistency and tactical intelligence have only strengthened Barcelona’s belief that he could be the ideal successor to Lewandowski.
Defensive Reinforcements Not a Priority for Barcelona
Despite speculation linking Barcelona to defensive signings, strengthening the back line is not currently a priority for president Joan Laporta. According to Martínez, the club feels confident that the return of Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen will stabilize the defense.
As a result, the board’s focus has shifted firmly toward reinforcing the attack, with the number 9 position at the top of the agenda.
El Barcelona considera más importante reforzar la delantera el año que viene que el puesto de central. Un hombre gol. Con Araujo y Christensen recuperados,es más prioritario buscar un delantero por si Lewandowski no continúa, que parece lo más probable. Julián Álvarez en la pole
— Alfredo Martínez (@Alfremartinezz) January 10, 2026
Why Harry Kane Has Fallen Down the List
Harry Kane’s name has frequently appeared in transfer rumors involving Barcelona, largely due to his star status and goal-scoring reputation. Statistically, the Bayern Munich striker is enjoying an exceptional season, with 30 goals and three assists in 25 matches under Vincent Kompany.
However, Kane’s age, salary demands, and overall financial cost are seen as limiting factors. In contrast, Álvarez—being significantly younger—represents a longer-term investment, even if his market value is higher.
Transfer Plans Set for the Summer Window
Despite internal decisions already taking shape, Barcelona do not plan to move immediately in the market. The pursuit of a new striker is expected to take place during the summer transfer window.
In the current window, the club has already completed the return of João Cancelo from Al-Hilal. Sporting director Deco recently praised the Portuguese full-back, highlighting his quality and importance to the squad.
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
