Flick tests Yamal centrally as Barcelona seek striker

Barcelona are still without a recognised centre-forward for the new season, and that reality is forcing Hansi Flick to improvise while the club continues its pursuit of Julian Alvarez. With Robert Lewandowski gone and Ferran Torres set to join Paris Saint-Germain, the coaching staff have begun testing different attacking setups in training.

Barcelona still waiting for a Lewandowski successor

Three months have passed since Lewandowski announced his departure from Barcelona, yet no direct replacement has arrived at Camp Nou. There is still time left in the transfer window, but the pressure is growing as the deadline for registering new players with the Spanish federation approaches on 1 September.

Barcelona’s preferred solution remains clear. Flick wants Julian Alvarez, and the Argentina forward is reported to be open to the move. The problem is Atletico Madrid, with talks over a transfer proving difficult and no agreement yet in place.

That stand-off has left Barcelona in an awkward position. The club’s attacking line is being reshaped, and the lack of progress in negotiations means Flick cannot rely solely on the transfer market to solve the issue.

Yamal tried as a central option in training

According to reports from Catalonia, one of the most eye-catching ideas under consideration is a positional change for Lamine Yamal. In one training session, the Spain international was used through the middle, and footage reportedly captured him scoring during the exercise.

The idea is not entirely without logic. Yamal is widely associated with the right flank, but there has also been discussion around his suitability for a more central role, particularly as a false nine. Comparisons have even been drawn with the way Lionel Messi evolved over time from a wide attacker into a more central presence.

That would represent a shift in emphasis from Flick’s earlier stance, when he had indicated that Yamal would play only on the side of the pitch. The latest thinking, however, appears more flexible, with the Barcelona coach said to believe that a player of Yamal’s level can adapt to different demands.

Other new arrivals offer flexibility

Yamal is not the only possible answer. In the same training setup, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi featured in the wide roles. Both are new Barcelona signings and both also have experience playing as a No 9, giving Flick further room to experiment if a specialist striker does not arrive in time.

• Robert Lewandowski has left Barcelona.
• Ferran Torres is set to join Paris Saint-Germain.
• Julian Alvarez remains Flick’s first-choice target.
• Lamine Yamal has been tested centrally in training.

That versatility may prove important in the short term, but it does not appear to have changed the club’s main objective.

Alvarez remains the priority

Despite the tactical experiments, Alvarez is still viewed as the leading target. The forward is considered to match the profile Flick wants from his striker, and Barcelona have not abandoned hope of completing the deal.

Spanish media suggest the next step may depend on the player himself and whether he takes a more public role in trying to force movement. For now, though, Barcelona are balancing two tracks at once: continuing their efforts to sign Alvarez while preparing internal alternatives in case the transfer remains blocked.

That is why Flick’s training-ground experiments matter. They are not yet a final answer to life after Lewandowski, but they are a sign that Barcelona are preparing for every scenario.