ESPN: Barcelona seems unlikely to sign the "Little Spider" (a nickname for a player), and could consider signing players like Oyarzabal for their attacking options.

According to ESPN analysis, Barcelona hopes to sign a number 9 striker but has missed out on their top target, Alvarez. Who should they turn to? What answers can the data offer?

With less than two weeks left in the summer transfer window, Barcelona's dream of signing Atletico Madrid striker Álvarez appears to have been dashed.

To make matters worse, the club released Robert Lewandowski and approved Ferran Torres' €50 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain.

Anthony Gordon (signed from Newcastle United for €70 million) and Adyemi (signed from Borussia Dortmund for €22 million) have already joined the team, but Barcelona still needs to sign one, or even two, attackers as soon as possible. Otherwise, from the start of the new season until at least January, they will have to rely on academy players, teenagers, or wingers forced to play as center forwards. For a team aiming for a third consecutive La Liga title, this is clearly far from enough.

Besides Alvarez, Barcelona also scouted other targets this summer, but failed to secure any of them. Harry Kane is determined to stay at Bayern Munich, João Pedro has extended his contract with Chelsea until 2032, and hopes of signing Bournemouth player Klupi were dashed when he suffered a metatarsal fracture in the summer.

With time running out, who can Barcelona turn to?

What kind of striker do we need?

The first step in any scouting job is to define the needs. Barcelona certainly needs a striker, but what style do they need? And what specific qualities should they possess?

First and foremost, this player must be a reliable scorer. Last season, Lewandowski and Ferran Torres took turns playing the number 9, combining for 30 goals in La Liga. Considering that other positions in the team also have scoring capabilities, such as Yamal, Olmo, and Rafinha, the new signing doesn't necessarily need to reach that number, but he must be productive; 15 goals or assists is the absolute minimum.

In addition, this player needs a certain level of creativity to create opportunities for Barcelona's many scoring midfielders, or to create space for teammates through dribbling.

Finally, he must be able to participate in high pressing and running, ideally possessing high-speed running ability. Head coach Hansi Flick requires players to maintain aggression off the ball while employing a high defensive line. Now that the 37-year-old Lewandowski has left the team, Flick can further implement this style of play. These are also the priority qualities seen in the other two new attacking signings this summer, Gordon and Adyemi.

Alvarez's value lies in the fact that he possesses all these abilities and also has a threat from set pieces; such an all-around striker is rare. Of course, Barcelona cannot afford him at present, and Atletico Madrid has set a price tag of 200 million euros for him.

So, are there any other players who possess some or all of these qualities and could solve Barcelona's immediate crisis?

Selected star players: Oyarzabal, Lautaro Martinez, Malmush

At this stage, the most "safe" choice is undoubtedly Real Sociedad's Oyarzabal. During Spain's recent golden era, he was a key striker and helped the team win the 2026 World Cup.

He has played alongside players like Yamal, Pedri, and Olmo in the national team for many years, sharing a similar rhythm and being familiar with each other. Oyarzabal is a consistent scorer, having scored 15 goals in 30 starts for Real Sociedad in La Liga last season. He is also a clever playmaker; his pressing in the attacking third is intelligent, though not particularly aggressive.

However, this deal has two potential drawbacks: First, he is already 29 years old, and Real Sociedad is unlikely to release him for less than his €75 million release clause; second, he has never played for a club outside his parent club in his professional career. Is taking this step at this age wise?

Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez possesses many of the same strengths as Oyarzabal. He has long been one of Europe's top second strikers, consistently scoring over 20 goals in all competitions, and posing a threat both inside and outside the penalty area.

However, it should be emphasized that he rarely, if ever, played the role of a true number 9 at Inter Milan. Inter would always pair him with a taller, more physically stronger target man, such as Marcus Thuram or Edin Dzeko, with the latter truly leading the attack.

With the ball, Lautaro Martinez likely fits Barcelona's requirements for a hybrid attacking midfielder and striker. But what about off the ball? For the 28-year-old Argentine, the situation is quite different, as his playing style has been established for many years.

Manchester City's Malmush was originally a good fit for Barcelona; he can play the number 9 position, possesses exceptional technique, reliable scoring ability, and is very aggressive in pressing. However, reports indicate that he has already reached advanced talks with Tottenham Hotspur and is about to join them.

The data suggests: Micataze, Sebastiano Esposito

The problem with established stars is that they are usually more expensive, so we might as well analyze the data in depth and find a cheaper option that still meets our needs.

Using data from Gradient Sports, we can find similar players based on Gaston Alvarez's strengths and weaknesses. The top two recommendations are interesting; both are younger, less well-known choices.

The first is Georges Mikatadze. In two years, he moved from Metz to Lyon, and then to Villarreal, largely thanks to his outstanding performance representing Georgia at Euro 2024. Last season was his first time playing in La Liga, and he performed exceptionally well, scoring 13 goals and providing 6 assists in just over 2000 minutes. Besides his natural finishing ability, his delicate touch in the penalty area and his ability to create chances for his teammates are particularly noteworthy.

Unfortunately for Barcelona, his release clause rose from €60 million to €76 million in mid-August, bringing the deal price close to that of Oyarzabal. However, Mikatadze is four years younger than Oyarzabal, at 25 years old, and has not yet reached his peak, so the long-term value of this deal may be higher.

Another option recommended by the data is Sebastiano Esposito. A product of Inter Milan's youth academy, he was once considered a future star, but was subsequently loaned out eight times—yes, a full eight times—and his development somewhat veered off course. However, his permanent transfer to Cagliari has given him a new beginning.

Last season, he took on a more creative role in Cagliari's two-striker system, scoring 7 goals and providing 5 assists in Serie A. His ability to drop back behind the forward line to receive the ball, turn, and pass it into open spaces was impressive.

But there's a potential problem here—not the price. This summer, Sebastiano Esposito left the team without permission during preseason due to a contract dispute and was punished by Cagliari. His playing style may be similar to Gaston Álvarez in some aspects, but transfer dealings can't only consider that.

High-stakes gamble on young players: Nicolo Tresordi, Matias Fernandez Pado, Hamza Abdulkarim

Looking further away from established stars, Barcelona can also choose younger players who require less experience. These names represent huge risks, but also offer immense potential and potentially very high returns.

Fernandez Pado, 21, burst onto the scene in 2026, playing a key role for Lille last season and earning a place in Belgium's 2026 World Cup squad. His career began as a winger, favoring a left-sided cut-in shot, but last season, due to an injury crisis at his club, he transitioned to a striker role.

The transition has had its pros and cons: his incredible speed is highly effective in counter-attacks, especially away from home, but in limited spaces, he has also revealed areas for improvement. His physical attributes and off-the-ball movement are a good fit for Flick's Barcelona and he has the potential to develop into an excellent scorer, but currently his handling of tight spaces and central areas lacks finesse.

Whether by coincidence or not, Atletico Madrid is also trying to sign him. Perhaps they've already seen the shadow of the next Gaston Alvarez in him.

22-year-old Tresoldi has attracted the attention of numerous scouts at Club Brugge in Belgium over the past year. Club Brugge is an excellent team, and this summer winger Cristos Chulis transferred to Arsenal for €40 million. Tresoldi's goal-scoring instinct is widely praised, and his excellent ability to receive the ball with his back to goal and link up with his teammates is also highly regarded.

There's also Hamza Abdulkarim. He joined Barcelona's youth team on loan from Al Ahli in February and then permanently transferred in this summer for €1.5 million. He played a crucial role in the first team's preseason, partly because the team had no other options and partly because his excellent performances earned him continued playing time.

He scored four goals and received high praise both in Spain and within his club, potentially earning a place in the first team for the new season. However, at this stage, believing he can take on a more significant role would be the biggest gamble of all options.