Jonathan Soriano reportedly tops Barcelona’s agenda for an experienced striker in January, with Alexandre Pato also being considered.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Barca would rather sign an older head in the winter to act as backup for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, with Munir El Haddadi and Sandro Ramirez struggling to replace the trio’s goals in any of their absences.
Consequently, their search has brought them to former B striker Jonathan Soriano, who has scored over 100 goals for Red Bull Salzburg since he arrived in Austria four years ago.
The 30-year-old admitted his interest in a return to Camp Nou earlier in the season, and the newspaper claims the club recently asked about his contractual status and availability.
Soriano’s contract with Red Bull expires in 2018, but the side have endured a below-par start to the campaign, with Coach Peter Zeidler being dismissed for the European exits.
Nonetheless, he leads the Austrian Bundesliga charts with 13 goals and was the subject of a failed €13m bid from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.
Barca have also reportedly been offered Pato, who is due to leave Sao Paulo this month after a frutitful 18-month loan spell from Corinthians, having scored 26 goals this year.
The 26-year-old, who rose to fame with Milan between 2008 and 2013, before a succession of injuries ruined his spell at San Siro, is believed to be ready for a return to Europe.
Finally, Marca claims Luis Enrique’s decision not to make any substitutions against Valencia on Saturday was an indirect sign to Barca’s board that he wanted January reinforcements.
