Barcelona target John Duran from Al Nassr to bolster attack on a budget

FC Barcelona has identified John Duran as an offensive option in this summer’s transfer window, according to Spanish newspaper Sport. The 22-year-old Colombian striker, under contract with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, is viewed by the Blaugrana leadership as a viable and financially accessible solution.

The Catalan club has already signed Anthony Gordon for €80 million from Newcastle, as well as Karim Adeyemi for €29 million including bonuses, with the official announcement still to come. But the confirmed departure of Robert Lewandowski, which could be followed by Ferran Torres moving to Paris Saint-Germain, is forcing the board to seek additional reinforcement up front.

Duran’s profile raises questions given his last season. The striker scored just 7 goals in 30 appearances, split between Fenerbahçe in Turkey and Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia. These two loans deemed insufficient sent him back to Al Nassr, his parent club.

Barcelona has not yet made contact with the Saudi club, but a loan with option to buy formula is being studied. Barcelona executives are set to travel to the Gulf soon to try to finalize the deal. Time is pressing: Benfica Lisbon is reportedly very close to wrapping up the transfer.

If this deal falls through, Barcelona would turn to Darwin Nunez, the Uruguayan striker at Al-Hilal, whose situation at the Saudi club is reportedly becoming increasingly precarious. The Julian Alvarez file remains open in parallel.