Barcelona sporting director heads to Lisbon with striker talks on the agenda

Barcelona sporting director heads to Lisbon with striker talks on the agenda Barcelona’s search for a new centre-forward has taken Deco to Lisbon. With just days remaining before the September 1 transfer deadline, Barcelona’s sporting director has travelled to the Portuguese capital for a busy round of meetings, with the club’s search for a No. 9 still one of the biggest issues on the agenda. According to RAC1, Deco flew to Lisbon on Friday as Barcelona continue working on different possibilities in the transfer market.  The identity of the agents and clubs he plans to meet there has not yet been revealed, but the trip comes at a time when the club is actively assessing alternatives to Julian Alvarez. One name naturally linked with the visit is Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez, while another is Benfica forward Vangelis Pavlidis . However, it is also important to note that Barcelona have not yet completely closed the door on Julian Alvarez. Barcelona’s striker search unresolved Barcelona have spent weeks working on the possibility of signing Julian Alvarez , but the operation has proved extremely difficult. Atletico Madrid’s stance has created a major obstacle, forcing Deco and the sporting department to ensure that alternative options are available before the transfer window closes. That work now appears to have taken the Barcelona sporting director to Lisbon. As such, Deco travelled to the Portuguese capital to deal with several matters related to Barcelona’s sporting planning, and the search for a reliable centre-forward is among the club’s main priorities. For now, there is no confirmation about exactly who Deco will meet, leaving room for speculation, particularly because both Luis Suarez and Vangelis Pavlidis, based in Portugal, have been linked with Barcelona in recent weeks. Yet Barcelona’s position on Alvarez has not changed. The Argentine remains a player the club admire, and they are still monitoring his situation despite the difficulties surrounding a potential agreement with Atletico Madrid. The club, however, cannot afford to enter the final days of the window without a backup plan, which is why Deco’s Lisbon trip could be significant. Barcelona have concerns over Luis Suarez In the last few weeks, Luis Suarez is among the names that appeal as a potential alternative. Barcelona have denied interest in Luis Suarez. (Photo by Verity Griffin/Getty Images) The Colombian forward enjoyed an impressive season with Sporting CP, scoring 28 goals in the Portuguese league, but the situation is far from straightforward. Club sources have previously denied the rumours surrounding Barcelona’s interest in the Sporting forward, while the financial demands involved have also emerged as a major problem. Sporting CP are not keen on selling Suarez and have pointed towards a release clause of around €80 million. Understandably, Barcelona consider that figure too high. The Catalan club are not prepared to make a move at that price, although they continue to monitor the situation.  A change in Sporting’s demands could alter the picture, but there has been no indication so far that the Portuguese club are ready to lower their valuation. That creates an interesting question around Deco’s trip. His meetings in Lisbon could involve Suarez, Pavlidis or an entirely different opportunity. At this stage, though, there is no confirmation that the Barcelona sporting director’s visit is directly connected to the Sporting striker.