Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 8y

Barcelona struggle to attract new forwards - Andres Iniesta

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta has accepted that "it is not easy" to attract a forward to the club knowing they will have to compete for playing time with superstars Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Barca sporting director Robert Fernandez has admitted regularly this summer that he is looking for backup for the first choice trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez, but has as yet been unable to bring in someone happy to work in that situation.

The Camp Nou outfit have been linked with a host of players including Manchester City's new signing Nolito, Sevilla's Kevin Gameiro, Atletico Madrid pair Luciano Vietto and Angel Correa, but the idea of coming to sit on the bench as the 'MSN' play most weeks has not been attractive.

Barca's vice president of finance, Susana Monje, said on Thursday that the club had "between €20 and €24 million" left in its transfer budget for the summer, and could spend all of this on a forward.

Friday morning's Mundo Deportivo has Fernandez travelling to South America to negotiate potential deals for reported City target Gabriel Jesus or another starlet in Santos' Gabigol, while the club's director of football Raul Sanhelli is in Italy investigating moves for Fiorentina's Mario Gomez or AC Milan's Carlos Bacca.

Meanwhile, Sport have 36 names Barca have considered this summer as their "fourth attacker," ranging from Fenerbahce veteran Robin van Persie to Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal to Everton's Arouna Kone.

Speaking at an event organised by his family's wine brand, Iniesta said that even knowing you might not play every week did not mean joining Barca should not be attractive for any player.

"With the forwards we have it is not an easy situation," the Blaugrana skipper said. "But I also believe it is something tempting, considering the club Barca is. The player who comes will be one more and will be bring his hard work. Whoever comes will not be thinking about playing more or less, but in adding his quality and his talent."

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