Barcelona are reportedly scouring the market for an emergency option to replace Sergio Aguero, with Karim Adeyemi among the candidates.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona are eager to secure the services of a striker in the January transfer window due to Sergio Aguero’s indefinite withdrawal from action. To that end, the Catalan giants have set their sights on Karim Adeyemi, with other options also identified.
Karim Adeyemi is widely regarded as one of the brightest young attacking players in the game right now, having gone from strength to strength at Red Bull Salzburg for the better part of 2021. The 19-year-old has started the ongoing season well, with 14 goals and two assists in 21 outings across all competitions.
At the same time, Adeyemi has also broken into the German national side, scoring on debut against Armenia. His progress has captured the attention of the who’s who of European football, with Barcelona being one of his prospective suitors.
Barcelona hold a long-standing interest in Adeyemi, having failed to sign him in 2019. The appeal has only grown stronger in the two years since, with the Blaugrana now considering a January move for the teenage prodigy, for a good reason.
The Catalan giants have a desperate lack of a quality striker in the first-team setup following Sergio Aguero’s layoff due to a heart condition. The Argentine is sidelined for an indefinite period, while Martin Braithwaite is also unavailable. So, Luuk de Jong, who has not inspired any confidence since arriving on loan from Sevilla, remains the only recognised striker in the first team.
So, it is hardly surprising that Barcelona are eager to sign a striker in the January transfer window, with Adeyemi one of the options being considered. However, the 19-year-old German international could be beyond Barcelona’s means this winter, with the player unlikely to be attracted by the sports project either.
Hence, the Blaugrana could have to turn their attention towards other alternatives, with Edinson Cavani, Alexandre Lacazette and Raheem Sterling also on their shortlist of possible reinforcements for the January window. So, it remains to be seen if Barcelona make their move for Adeyemi or set their sights on some other striker instead.