The debate on Barça's search for a new no. 9: Who do they go for?

The debate on Barça's search for a new no. 9: Who do they go for?

Luis Suárez KO para cuatro meses / | PERFORM

The club must decide whether to go for a long-term option to lead the line or somebody to only cover Luis Suarez's absence

FC Barcelona's sporting department held a meeting this Monday afternoon to decide, amongst other things this transfer window, what type of striker they should be looking to bring in. Luis Suarez's long-term lay off has forced the club into action sooner than expected. Quique Setien, who hasn't been in charge for a week yet, has yet to make a decision on what he'd like to do this month. Yet with 10 days to go before the transfer window closes, Barça must move quickly.

The club has two options on the table. One is to sign a different kind of striker but who also has room to develop and improve. The issue is convincing any major side to part company with an established striker now rather than the summer, as well as the expected heavy cost of a deal. However, as is commonplace in football nowadays, this could be offset by a structured instalments plan.

The other option is to sign a more experienced striker who would simply cover Suarez's absence but who wouldn't be an option long term. They'd come as a cheaper cost and would allow cash to be saved for the summer search for a brand new number nine. Yet this was the route Barça went down last year and Kevin-Prince Boateng turned out to be a disaster.

It's also important not to rule out La Masia's role in all of this, especially with Setien at the helm. Abel Ruiz and Alejandro Marqués are two young strikers but, with their futures uncertain, it might be too much of a risk to play either one of them if they end up moving away in the summer.

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