Barcelona on the lookout for a striker - Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique wants to bolster his Barcelona attack with an out-and-out striker and expects Arda Turan to come good this season.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZYbzQyRwDHVN2BDD9E3g6B.jpg)
Barcelona are in the market for "a true striker" during the current transfer window, according to coach Luis Enrique.
The LaLiga champions have already reinforced their squad with the arrivals of French defensive duo Samuel Umtiti and Lucas Digne and midfielder Denis Suarez from Villarreal, who he joined from Barcelona B last year in a deal containing a buy-back clause.
But Luis Enrique is still eager to bolster his forward options and ease the burden on mercurial front three Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.
"We're looking for a striker but the best thing would be to sign another player, if there is a good option," he told a news conference.
"We're looking for a pure striker, who moves close to the area without dropping wide, because we have a lot of players for the wings, like Denis, Arda [Turan], Andres [Iniesta]. [We want] a true striker, who has goals."
Luis Enrique staunchly defended Arda, who has come in for criticism after some underwhelming displays last season having joined Barca from Atletico Madrid.
The coach pointed to initial scepticism over Luis Suarez, whose second campaign at Barcelona yielded 59 goals from 53 games last time around.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
Luis Enrique: "We have improved a lot in areas we used to suffer and we continue getting better" July 21, 2016
"Remember Suarez's first few days here?" he said. "You guys [media] said he was fat and wasn't scoring goals.
"These guys need to adapt, they're not robots. I want [Arda] to continue here.
"He learned a lot in his first year. He did everything we asked and we won titles. I'm sure he'll continue here and continue helping us. I have total confidence."
Speculation still lingers over the future of first-team goalkeepers Claudio Bravo and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Although Luis Enrique wants to maintain a goalkeeping setup of the two senior men and Jordi Masip, he accepts the situation could change if a significant offer is tabled.
He added: "I want all three of these goalkeepers here. Everything is negotiable, I'd like the goal to be covered by a truck.
"Everybody wants to play more, across the pitch. I have to manage it and I'll manage it as I've always done - for the best of the team. If there's a huge offer on the table for a player, we'll see what happens."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack