FC Barcelona expect permission to sign new striker - Morón and further candidates in focus

FC Barcelona’s search for a new striker gathers pace. After the club confirmed that Ousmane Dembélé will be out for six months, the medical report is expected to arrive at the Spanish FA on Thursday, according to Mundo Deportivo. The persons in charge of the Catalonian club are hopeful to get an exceptional permission, which enables them to sign a new player from another Spanish club outside of the usual transfer window.

For this purpose, Barça’s leaders have convened a meeting on Thursday, to make a final decision on which option they would pursue, if the Spanish FA give the go-ahead. Willian José, who was mentioned as the favourite solution recently and has also been a target of Tottenham in January, does not play a role in their thoughts anymore. According to Marca, the 28-year-old’s club Real Sociedad are demanding a fee between €30 million and €35 million. Coach Imanol Alguacil even stated that a departure would only be possible if Barcelona pay his buy-out clause: “If they don’t put €70 million on the table, he will stay with us.”

FC Barcelona: Morón, Rodríguez and Pérez on the radar

As Mundo Deportivo report, Barça want the replacement for Dembélé to be available for the match against Eibar on February 22 already. The local sports paper is mentioning three possible candidates: Loren Morón of Betis, Ángel Rodríguez of Getafe, as well as former Arsenal and West Ham striker Lucas Pérez, who is currently playing for Alavés.

Morón would be the most expensive of the three options. The Spaniard, who scored eight goals in 22 LaLiga matches, has a €40 million buy-out clause, according to Marca, while Mundo Deportivo report that it even amounts to €60 million. Because of their good relationship with Betis, the Barça leaders are understood to be hopeful to find a solution. Morón himself is interested in a move. “I’m aware that Barcelona are interested. Of course, you enjoy that,” he said in an interview with Cuatro.