FC Barcelona is preparing to make an important decision regarding the team's future in the striker position, number 9, in preparation for the upcoming season, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo."

The Catalan club faces several options regarding current players or seeking a new deal in the market.

The first option is to renew Robert Lewandowski's contract, which expires next June. If the Polish striker does not continue, the club will free up a significant portion of its wage bill. However, in return, they will lose a prominent goal scorer who is still delivering impressive numbers despite being 37 years old. He scored 42 goals last season and has already netted 8 this season, although he no longer holds a guaranteed starting position, having been replaced by Ferran Torres.

The second option is to rely on Ferran Torres, who has informed the club and coaching staff of his outstanding performance this season. According to the newspaper, Hans Flick told him last summer that he sees Torres as the first choice to lead the attack. The player has translated this confidence into an impressive scoring level, having scored 11 goals since the hat-trick against Real Betis—just one goal shy of Kylian Mbappé, who has 12 goals plus 4 from penalties.

As for the third option, it is to look for a new deal to strengthen the number 9 position, but this path faces economic challenges, according to the newspaper. The most attractive players currently, such as Julián Álvarez and Harry Kane, require significant investments to sign, with Álvarez's price exceeding 100 million euros.

While Bayern Munich will not allow the departure of Kain, who is under contract until 2027, for less than 65 million euros, the player himself also feels comfortable at his current club. Additionally, Mundo Deportivo pointed out that Álvarez's recent performance against Barcelona at Camp Nou has influenced the interest in him, following a decline in his form at Atlético Madrid.

Thus, Barcelona finds itself at a crucial crossroads, as the sports management led by Deco must decide the best option between retaining current players or seeking a new signing in the market, ensuring the best offensive performance for the upcoming season.