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Barcelona are heading into the new season in a rather unusual situation.

After the exits of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Hansi Flick currently does not have a natural senior centre-forward available in his first-team squad.

The Polish striker departed at the end of last season after his contract expired, while Ferran pushed for a move once Paris Saint-Germain made their approach.

The Spaniard was presented as a new Paris Saint-Germain player earlier today, officially leaving Barcelona without a recognised striker in the squad ahead of the new campaign.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez continues to be Barcelona’s main target in the transfer market.

But unless that move goes through, if it happens at all, Flick still has a number of internal alternatives he can rely on.

At present, Hamza Abdelkarim is the only natural striker involved with the first team.

The 18-year-old got his pre-season chance after progressing with Juvenil A and featuring at the World Cup. He then strengthened his case by scoring twice in the friendly against Birmingham City.

How Barcelona complete the building of their squad will probably decide whether Hamza stays around Flick’s side or continues his development elsewhere within the club.

Beyond the teenager, Barcelona would need to look at less traditional solutions.

Dani Olmo has operated before as a false nine, while Lamine Yamal has increasingly been tried in central positions.

Flick said during pre-season that the 19-year-old has the ability to adjust to that role, and Lamine has since been used as a false nine in training matches.

Ebrima Tunkara and Shane Kluivert have also been deployed as false-nine options, although the latter has now returned to Barca Atletic.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old remains with the first team and could also be tested as a false nine from time to time.

New arrivals Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi give Flick two more possible solutions.

The Barcelona manager has publicly pointed to the versatility of both summer signings, saying they are capable of playing on either flank or through the middle.

Gordon already has experience of playing centrally from his time at Newcastle. His speed could offer Barcelona a completely different kind of threat at No. 9, especially in games where Flick wants his side to attack space instead of using a traditional focal point.

Adeyemi is equally comfortable moving across the front line and has played in that role before, even if it is not his natural position.

Flick’s tactical flexibility means Barcelona are not entirely without answers while they wait for a new No. 9.

Lamine, Olmo, Gordon and Adeyemi could all be used through the middle depending on the opposition and the nature of the match.

In fact, operating without a fixed striker could at times make an already fluid Blaugrana attack even harder to defend against.

Even so, these remain only alternatives, and the club must understand exactly what that label means. They may be able to fill in there, but none of these players should be seen as a true solution.

Lamine’s biggest impact right now comes from the freedom to create, rather than from taking on the burden of leading the line every week.

Gordon and Adeyemi also bring greater value from wider positions. That is why the chase for Alvarez continues to matter.

Barcelona need to bring in a new No. 9 before the summer window closes. Whether that player is Alvarez or someone else will depend on Atletico Madrid’s position over the coming weeks.