Barcelona working on transfer 'roadmap' for cheaper Alexander Isak alternative | OneFootball

Barcelona are increasingly expected to accept defeat with regard to the club's longstanding interest in prolific Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak and pursue a more attainable Premier League attacker this summer instead.

Barcelona have identified that a new forward is a must-have addition ahead of next season, not least with Robert Lewandowski approaching his 37th birthday.

The club appear to have abandoned last year's interest in Nico Williams, who has gone off the boil since his inspired performances at Euro 2024. AC Milan's Rafael Leao has been heavily linked as one option to strengthen Barca's attacking trident, with Isak considered the ideal target. There have also been ambitious rumours regarding Erling Haalad, now tied to Manchester City until 2034.

Liverpool forward Luis Diaz is another player often mentioned in recent months and the latest update from SPORT suggests that Barca sporting director Deco is now working on "outlining the necessary roadmap" for a potential deal for the Colombian.

Diaz's situation from a Barcelona perspective is considered "more favourable" than Isak, who is being priced at €120m (£101m) or more. Competition for the Swede also exists from Arsenal and Liverpool.

Moving to Catalonia is described as a "dream" since childhood for Diaz, who is said to be "extremely tempted" by the potential opportunity. He will soon enter the final two years of his Liverpool contract.

There has already been "informal contact" between Deco and the player's camp, but the key for Barcelona is how to finance an approach for a player valued at around €70m-€75m (£59m-£63m).

Alexander Isak would cost way more than Diaz / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages

The Catalans are in a much healthier position than they were even just last summer, when a move for Williams wasn't possible and it required a loophole to register Dani Olmo to play. But they still aren't flush with riches and a move for Diaz would require cash to be raised first.

Barcelona could make some money from various player sell-on clause, but a more solid route would be a sale from the current squad. In that respect, the club would be willing to let a midfielder go, with Pedri the only one considered non-transferable at any price. Gavi, for example, has been linked with Chelsea, while Frenkie de Jong continues to cling on amid a contract that expires in 2026.

Defenders Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen are also available. Ronald Araujo could be let go, despite only recently signing a new contract, but only if he specifically asks to leave.

Diaz initially thrived at Liverpool following his arrival from Porto in January 2022. He continued to start regularly since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp at the helm last summer, but Cody Gakpo is the favoured option on the left flank and it is arguably only a lack of faith in Darwin Nunez in the 'number nine' role that has given Diaz as much playing time as he's had.

With Liverpool expected to pursue a striker in the summer to replace Nunez, amid aforementioned interest in Isak and others, Diaz could feasibly fall down the pecking order at Anfield quite soon.