Barcelona want a centre-forward and their first choice is proving expensive. So the club has widened the net, and two of the biggest names in European football are now on the list: Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
The report, via Talksport, says Barcelona are looking at Kane, 33, of Bayern Munich and England, and Haaland, 26, of Manchester City and Norway, as alternatives to Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid and Argentina forward, also 26, remains the preferred option.
Why the alternatives matter
Alvarez is the profile Barcelona have been chasing for months — the right age, the right price bracket in theory, and a player who suits how they want to attack. Atletico have shown no appetite for selling. When a club starts briefing about names like Kane and Haaland, it usually means the first-choice deal has stalled rather than collapsed.
Neither would be straightforward. Haaland is under long contract at City and there is no indication the club would entertain it. Kane is 33 and settled in Munich, though Bayern have already been linked with a possible successor.
Bayern's contingency
That successor, according to the same report, could be Nick Woltemade. The 24-year-old Germany forward is a Newcastle United player currently on loan at Juventus, and Bayern have been linked as a potential replacement should Kane move on. It is the kind of chain that either resolves in one window or unwinds entirely.
Elsewhere in Wednesday's papers, Manchester United are said to be interested in Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite again now that the 24-year-old has returned from injury trouble. Real Madrid's Endrick, 20, could be available in January with United among the clubs watching.
The rest of the round-up
Arsenal are keeping an eye on Rio Ngumoha, the 18-year-old English winger, though Liverpool want to extend his contract. Tottenham retain an interest in Morgan Gibbs-White, having tried for the 26-year-old England midfielder in summer 2025, but Nottingham Forest have no intention of selling.
Rodri, now 30 and at Barcelona after leaving Manchester City in the summer, spoke to Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho "to thank him for his interest and the way he treated me" before choosing the Camp Nou over the Bernabeu. Barcelona sporting director Deco has met Raphinha to discuss extending the 29-year-old Brazilian's deal, which currently runs to 2028. And AC Milan's option to make Omari Hutchinson's loan from Nottingham Forest permanent sits at close to 50m euros (£42.8m) for the 22-year-old English forward.
Transfer context: Harry Kane, 33, Bayern Munich, England. Erling Haaland, 26, Manchester City, Norway. Julian Alvarez, 26, Atletico Madrid, remains Barcelona's first choice. Nick Woltemade, 24, is a Newcastle United player on loan at Juventus. Sources: Talksport, Football Insider, Teamtalk, Mundo Deportivo, Sport and Calciomercato, via BBC Sport's gossip column, 16 September 2026.
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