Alvaro Morata takes the lead in race to be Barca back-up striker
With 15 days to go until the market closes, now Alvaro Morata is in the lead
Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata has taken the lead in the intense race to be Barcelona's winter signing as back-up for Luis Suarez.
Munir left for Sevilla and with 15 days to go, the board are searching for a forward who meets coach Ernesto Valverde's requirements. Quick adaptation period, knows La Liga and can fit into the Barca dynamic. Morata is the forward who fits the profile the most.
However it will not be easy to sign him. Atletico Madrid are also interested in signing the player who operated for them at youth level.
Morata is willing to reduce his salary to return to Madrid and form part of Diego Simeone's squad. But to get him, Atletico need to let someone go - they would contravene the salary limits imposed by La Liga.
Valverde is also looking at Olivier Giroud. His contract is up in the summer and Vlaverde likes his strength, but his salary is high and he doesn't know La Liga.
Odion Ighalo is an option too, at 29 he could make a return from China, but that league is not competitive and that is a worry for Barca.
STUANI, YES BUT NO
At 32, Girona striker Cristhian Stuani is also an option. He is La Liga's third top scorer and meets all the requirements of Valverde. However signing him would be an earthquake for Girona, losing the man who has netted 46 percent of their goals. Barca are conscious that swooping for him could ruin relations between the two clubs, which at the moment are excellent.
So Morata is the easied option. He is 26 and has a contract until 2022. He knows La Liga and has international experience with Juve, Chelsea.
