Barcelona are reportedly weighing up the prospect of signing 25-year-old Argentine striker Lucas Boye from Elche this month.
According to a report by Catalan outlet Esport3, Lucas Boye has emerged as the latest striker on Barcelona’s radar over a possible move in the ongoing transfer window. The Catalan giants view the 25-year-old Elche striker as an alternative to Alvaro Morata.
Lucas Boye has found stability in his career since joining Elche from Torino in September 2020. Los Franjiverdes initially signed the Argentine striker on a loan deal in September 2020, and after a successful 2020/21 campaign, they secured his services permanently last summer.
The 25-year-old has continued going from strength to strength this term, scoring six goals in 16 La Liga appearances. Those six goals make him Elche’s top scorer thus far in the ongoing season, with Boye playing a key role in steering his team clear of the relegation zone. The player’s exploits have not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona keen on signing him this month.
The Catalan giants have an urgent need of signing a striker, despite bringing in two centre-forwards last summer in Sergio Aguero and Luuk de Jong. But Aguero is no longer on Barcelona’s books after being forced to retire due to a heart ailment that prevents him from setting foot on the pitch again.
As for de Jong, the Dutch striker has been scripting a turnaround in form and fortunes in the last few weeks but is still not reliable enough to lead the line for Barcelona in every single game. With Martin Braithwaite not being too dependable either, the La Liga heavyweights have been forced to enter the market for a striker, with Alvaro Morata emerging as their priority target.
But the pursuit of the Spanish international has run its course, with the deal being too convoluted to see through this month. As a result, several alternatives have emerged on Barcelona’s radar in the last few days, with Lucas Boye their latest target.
The report interestingly mentions that Boye could replace de Jong instead of being an alternative for Morata. If that were to be the case, then Barcelona might need to sign another striker, with Hugo Ekitike among the centre-forwards on their shortlist. As for the pursuit of Boye, Elche might be resistant to letting the 25-year-old leave amid their ongoing battle to evade relegation.
