Dusan Vlahovic waits on Barcelona as striker search goes on

Barcelona's search for a successor to Robert Lewandowski remains one of the defining themes of the Spanish transfer window, and Dusan Vlahovic has now emerged as another name in the conversation. While Julian Alvarez is still described as Hansi Flick's preferred option, the Catalan club could yet be forced to explore alternatives in attack.

Barcelona weighing up attacking options

Lewandowski's departure has left a major vacancy at the top end of Barcelona's squad planning. Alvarez has been presented as the leading candidate to fill that role, but there is still no certainty over whether the Argentina forward will arrive at Camp Nou.

The situation is complicated further by the possibility of Ferran Torres leaving the club. According to the source material, the Spain international is moving closer to a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. If that deal were to go through, Barcelona would be facing the loss of two important attacking players in the same window, increasing the need for reinforcements.

There is an expectation that Alvarez's situation may become clearer in the coming days when he returns to training with Atletico after his holiday. Until then, Barcelona appear to be keeping other possibilities in mind.

Vlahovic waiting for a call from Camp Nou

One of those possibilities is Vlahovic, who is currently a free agent after leaving Juventus. Catalan outlet Sport, as cited in the source material, reports that the Serbia striker is still waiting for contact from Barcelona and believes an offer could arrive.

That stance is affecting his next move. Vlahovic has already received a proposal from Besiktas, but he has delayed signing it as he continues to monitor Barcelona's plans. The Turkish club have made a significant effort to convince him, offering a lucrative salary package as well as a signing bonus.

Besiktas also have another point in their favour: head coach Vincenzo Italiano previously worked with Vlahovic at Fiorentina. Even so, the striker has not yet committed, with the report stating that he has been given until 10 August to make a final decision.

Why Alvarez remains the priority

Despite Vlahovic's willingness to join Barcelona, the report suggests he may still be left waiting. Flick's clear priority is said to be Alvarez, and that appears to be shaping the club's thinking as they assess the market.

There are also football reasons for caution over Vlahovic. Questions reportedly remain over whether his style would suit Barcelona, while there are also concerns linked to the injuries he has dealt with in recent times.

The financial side has been an issue too. Vlahovic had previously offered himself to Barcelona, but at that stage his wage demands were considered too high. He has since lowered those expectations, yet that may still not be enough to move him ahead of Alvarez in the club's plans.

Time still left in the window

Barcelona are not yet under immediate pressure to close the matter. Their La Liga campaign is due to begin on 23 August with an away game against Elche, and the Spanish transfer window will remain open for several days after that. The deadline to register new players is 1 September.

That leaves room for movement, but the picture is clear enough for now: Barcelona's striker search is still active, Alvarez remains the first-choice target, and Vlahovic is prepared to wait a little longer in case the call from Camp Nou finally comes.