Barcelona enter new season short of a No.9

Barcelona are currently without a recognised striker in the first-team squad following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres this summer. The Catalans are left searching for a centre-forward solution ahead of the campaign.

Alvarez move blocked by Atletico

The club are continuing to try and sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, but Diego Simeone’s side are not interested in selling the Argentina international. With the pursuit stalled, Hansi Flick has turned to internal solutions on the training ground.

Flick experiments with false nine options

The Barca boss appears to have been experimenting with Yamal as a false nine, while Dani Olmo, Karim Adeyemi, Raphinha, Anthony Gordon and Fermin Lopez are also listed as options in attack. There has also been talk that Flick is thinking about using rising star Ebrima Tunkara as a false nine in the future, while Hamza Abdelkarim is a possible option up front but is expected to start the season with Barca Atletic.

One training observation described a potential front line with Adeyemi on the right, Gordon on the left and Fermin just behind a false nine Yamal.

Question of the day

With no new striker signed this summer, the debate remains open over who is Barcelona’s best No. 9 option. The club are inviting fan reaction on whether Flick should persist with a false nine or rely on a makeshift centre-forward.