One obstacle has cost Barcelona the signing of a standout striker this summer, deepening the centre-forward crisis at the Catalan club.
Barcelona need a striker after losing Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, and their pursuit of Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid collapsed, forcing them to hunt for a top-quality alternative.
Among the names regularly linked with that search is Serhou Guirassy, 30.
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According to "Bild", sporting director Deco recently enquired about the Borussia Dortmund striker. His high salary, though, prompted the Catalan club to reject the deal.
The German newspaper reported that the striker earns around ten million euros a year, a figure that dwarfs Barcelona's wage structure.
Reports in recent months put the release clause in Guirassy's contract at around 50 million euros, an amount only a handful of major European clubs can afford, Barcelona among them.
The salary is the sticking point. It has denied Barcelona the deal this summer.
Guirassy joined Borussia Dortmund in 2024 from Stuttgart, and his contract runs until 2028.
He shone at the Signal Iduna Park last season, finishing with 22 goals and six assists in 46 matches.
Late last week, he started Dortmund's 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup final.
"Bild" also reported that Dortmund are close to landing a Barcelona gem in Hector Fort.
Representatives of the German club flew to Barcelona yesterday to speed the transfer along.
Barcelona want more than 10 million euros for the academy graduate, while Hansi Flick has chosen to keep Xavi Espart in the squad.
Eight days remain until the window closes, and Deco is still hunting for an out-and-out striker.
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