Barcelona have identified the urgent need to strengthen the center of defense and the center of attack for the new 2026/27 edition.
Hansi Flick has been very clear with the board in demanding profiles that combine defensive strength and proven goal-scoring efficiency on big international stages.
The coaching staff’s absolute priority is to find credible successors for positions that will suffer significant losses due to the end of the cycle of several veterans.
Alvarez and Bastoni: The 180 million euro bet
Barcelona’s top priority is to sign Alvaro Alvarez from Atletico Madrid to lead their attack following the departure of Robert Lewandowski.
The deal for the Argentine is expected to reach 100 million euros, a figure that shows the German coach’s complete confidence in his mobility and scoring ability.
At the same time, the Catalan club wants to strengthen its defense with the arrival of a world-class center-back who can provide ball distribution and leadership.
Alessandro Bastoni is the chosen one for this mission, although his departure from Inter will require an expenditure of at least 80 million euros.
This joint investment of 180 million euros would make the team more active in the summer transfer market, giving a significant boost to their squad.
The Italian center-back and the Argentine striker represent “Plan A” of a board that seeks immediate results according to the new football model.
Barcelona’s Plan B
However, the club’s leaders are aware that Financial Fair Play regulations could force them to pursue stricter alternatives. Barcelona are optimistic about the possibility of using the free transfer market to fulfill the coach’s wishes without a transfer fee.
In this scenario, Marcos Senesi’s name is gaining significant ground as a smart option to bolster the defense with his Premier League experience. The Argentine center-back’s contract with Bournemouth expires this summer, which would make it much easier to sign him on a free transfer in June.
For attack, the golden opportunity has a name in Serie A: a striker with imposing physical attributes. Dusan Vlahovic’s contract with Juventus is expiring, making him the ideal replacement for the attacking line if Atletico’s option proves financially unattainable.