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Barcelona’s hopes of signing Julian Alvarez this summer are fading with each passing day, and the possibility of that deal going through now appears increasingly remote.

The forward has shown no indication that he is prepared to push back against his current club, while Atletico Madrid are also not opening the door to any negotiations.

With both Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski set to be absent from the squad next season, Barcelona are in urgent need of a new striker, and the club now appear to have reached the stage where they must seriously work on an alternative plan.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are looking at Sporting CP striker Luis Suarez as a fallback option in case they are unable to complete a move for Julian Alvarez.

The 28-year-old Colombian forward is currently viewed as an important figure in Sporting CP’s plans, which means securing his signature will not be easy, and the Blaugrana have not yet opened formal contact.

For now, Barcelona intend to wait one more week and assess whether there is any movement in their pursuit of Alvarez. If no progress is made, they will then explore a move for Suarez or consider other alternatives.

Spanish journalist Gerard Romero has further reported that Hansi Flick has already given his approval for the club to go after Suarez, suggesting that the Barcelona manager believes the striker suits his footballing profile.

That is a notable development, especially considering Flick has turned down a number of highly rated names in recent weeks.

As reported earlier this week, Alvarez has still not abandoned his ambition of joining Barcelona and remains convinced that there is still a possibility of persuading his current club.

Even so, the Argentine attacker is against choosing a more aggressive path to force the transfer and instead feels that a diplomatic approach is the best way to proceed.

Over the next few days, Alvarez is expected to continue talks with Diego Simeone and the Atletico Madrid hierarchy in the hope of convincing them to sanction his departure. At this stage, however, the chances of a breakthrough look slim.

As a result, Barcelona could soon begin giving greater priority to Suarez, particularly after receiving the manager’s green signal.

It is a situation worth monitoring closely, especially because Sporting CP are unlikely to allow the player to leave for a modest fee, with his current contract running until 2030.