Flick wants a new reference striker, but Deco must choose between dream, experience and opportunity.
FC Barcelona are starting to prepare a new attacking era with no room for mistakes. The exit of Robert Lewandowski would force the club to find goals, hierarchy and immediate reliability. That is why Deco already has a list of four very different candidates for Hansi Flick.
The names on the table are Julián Álvarez, Mikel Oyarzabal, Gabriel Jesus and Fisnik Asllani. Each one represents a different route, with very different prices, risks and ambition levels. Barça are not only looking for a striker, but for a decision that can shape the project.
Julián Álvarez remains the great dream
The name creating the most excitement inside Barça is still Julián Álvarez. The Argentine fits through mobility, goals, pressing, competitive character and experience on huge stages. Flick sees him as a complete forward, able to lead pressure and decide major games.
The problem is that Atlético Madrid have no intention of making his exit easy. The red-and-white club point to his contract until 2030 and an almost unreachable clause. Any Barça proposal would also require extremely complex financial engineering from Deco.
Deco knows Julián would be the strongest blow, but also the hardest road. The operation would demand major sales, salary margin and a more flexible Atlético position. Barça keep the dream alive, but know it could still become impossible.
Oyarzabal and Gabriel Jesus gain strength
The strongest LaLiga alternative is Mikel Oyarzabal, captain of Real Sociedad. The Spanish international can play as a mobile nine, drift wide and combine between lines. His connection with several Barça players also makes a quick dressing-room adaptation easier to imagine.
Oyarzabal has a contract until 2028, so Real Sociedad will not sell cheaply. His profile is liked because he does not need to live permanently inside the box. For Flick, that mobility could be useful with Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Dani Olmo.
The third route is Gabriel Jesus, a forward with experience, technique and mobility. The Brazilian ends his contract in 2027 and could become an opportunity if Arsenal open the door. His biggest doubt is injuries, which have damaged his continuity in recent seasons.
Asllani appears as a future bet
The fourth name is Fisnik Asllani, a less media-focused option but interesting for projection. The Hoffenheim striker has gained importance in Germany and has a contract until 2029. His recent numbers place him as a young, competitive alternative with clear growth margin.
Asllani would not arrive as an immediate star, but as a rotation piece with upside. That formula could fit if Barça fail to close a top-level operation this summer. The risk is that Flick needs goals now, not only a bet for two years.
The club must decide between an immediate offensive leader and a more sustainable solution. Julián and Oyarzabal offer more hierarchy, while Gabriel Jesus and Asllani look more accessible. That difference will shape the internal debate during the coming weeks.
Deco must choose the risk
Barça cannot afford an emotional decision in such an important position. Lewandowski has carried goals, presence and responsibility during a demanding Camp Nou era. His replacement must handle pressure from day one in Champions League, LaLiga and major matches.
Flick wants a striker who does not only finish, but participates, presses and creates advantages. That is why the list mixes mobility, experience and ability to play outside the area. Deco must balance the sporting request with a still delicate financial reality.
The ideal plan remains Julián Álvarez, but the market could push Barça elsewhere. Oyarzabal appears as the safest profile, Gabriel Jesus as an opportunity and Asllani as a bet. The twist is clear: Lewandowski’s heir already has four candidates, but only one can change everything.
Caution note: At the time of writing, there is no official agreement between Barça and any of these four forwards.
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