Barcelona’s striker search is taking an unusual turn under Hansi Flick, with the coach increasingly willing to reshape his attack around versatile talent rather than waiting for a conventional centre-forward to arrive. In pre-season work, Flick has been experimenting with Lamine Yamal in a central role, a tactical idea designed to solve a pressing goalscoring question after major departures in the squad’s forward line.
The context for the trial is clear. Barcelona have been forced to adapt following the exits of veteran Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, leaving the club short on proven “number nine” options. With the season approaching, Flick’s response has been to test whether his attackers can carry greater responsibility inside the box—and, crucially, whether the team can manufacture the same kind of threat without a traditional profile leading the line.
According to Goal.com, Flick is not treating the idea as a theoretical talking point. Training ground footage has shown Yamal operating and scoring from a central No.9 position during internal matches at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The club’s behind-closed-doors sessions suggest the experiment is being rehearsed with purpose, as Flick searches for a “killer” solution to convert moments into goals rather than relying solely on wide creativity.
What makes the approach notable is the confidence Flick appears to have in Yamal’s ability to adapt. The same Goal.com report highlights that Yamal’s natural effectiveness is often associated with starting from the wings, but the coach is preparing a system in which he can provide cover in the middle when needed. Flick’s belief is that the modern forward role can be flexible—shifting between receiving in advanced areas, moving between channels, and attacking the space that opens when defenders step toward wide threats.
Barcelona’s preparations also underline that this is not a one-player plan. The experimentation includes a broader willingness to use other attackers in central or quasi-central roles when the team’s shape requires it. Goal.com points out that Yamal is not the only player being asked to demonstrate versatility in the absence of a conventional No.9. Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi are both familiar with playing centrally, experiences that can help Barcelona cover that space when Flick tweaks the lineup.
Gordon’s and Adeyemi’s backgrounds reinforce Flick’s logic. Goal.com notes that Gordon has previously played in the central role for Newcastle United, while Adeyemi has done so for Borussia Dortmund. That matters because central play places different demands on timing and positioning—particularly the need to attack the penalty area quickly, anticipate deflections, and connect with teammates in tighter spaces.
Flick’s squad planning is also shaped by the expectation that Barcelona will balance possession football with other attacking traits across the season. Al Jazeera, looking ahead to the 2026-27 campaign, described how Flick will sometimes need Barca’s extended possession tactics to be supplemented by athleticism, straight speed, and vertical play—traits that can increase the team’s efficiency in matches where opponents defend deep. In that framework, Adeyemi and Gordon are seen as key contributors, bringing pace and directness that can complement a possession-first identity.
Al Jazeera also frames Barcelona’s wider transition as part of a youthful core capable of handling an intense schedule. With a World Cup-related extended run, the coach will need to manage burnout risks, yet the report suggests the squad’s age profile could be resilient. At 36, Wojciech Szczesny is described as Barcelona’s only player over 30, reinforcing the idea that Flick’s plans are built around younger energy as well as adaptable roles.
In addition, Al Jazeera reported that Adeyemi, now 24, is expected to back up Yamal on the right wing while also having the possibility of stepping into a striker role. That projection dovetails with Flick’s experimentation: the coach appears to be building a flexible attacking unit where players can interchange positions without breaking the team’s attacking structure.
While the tactical work centers on the No.9 question, Barcelona’s season planning also reflects the market’s uncertainty. In a separate report from La Vanguardia, Flick is portrayed as contemplating options if a “desired nine” is not ready by the time the league begins. The outlet suggests Flick would consider Dani Olmo functioning as a false nine or allowing Yamal to gain prominence through the central corridor. The same piece emphasizes that the final configuration will depend on time and, especially, the transfer market—meaning Barcelona’s immediate tactical trials may also be a bridge toward whatever recruitment outcome occurs.
All of this unfolds as Barca moves through the rhythm of pre-season scheduling. The club’s official communications continue to place Yamal prominently within the first-team setup, listing him as an attacker on the squad page, alongside Dani Olmo in midfield and other key figures in the squad. The presence of both Yamal and Olmo in central-area possibilities illustrates how Flick’s experimentation could translate into multiple formations, depending on personnel availability and match needs.
For now, the message from Barcelona’s training ground is that the club intends to keep searching for goals—without waiting passively for a single solution. Flick’s willingness to deploy Yamal at No.9, backed by visible work from internal sessions and reinforced by other attackers’ ability to cover central positions, suggests a coach trying to engineer a consistent threat pattern. If the experiments produce the desired finishing and movement, Barcelona may enter the 2026-27 season with a forward line that is less rigid, but potentially more dangerous.
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