THE FUSE

Julian Alvarez is regarded the dream candidate for those at Camp Nou, but the reality of a deal with Atletico Madrid is proving to be a logistical nightmare. Barcelona are conscious of the fact that the operation will be extremely complicated, forcing them to look elsewhere on their shortlist. One name that has emerged as a high-quality alternative, according to Sport, is Manchester City forward Marmoush. The Egyptian international is highly regarded by the Catalan club’s technical department, who believe his skill set would integrate perfectly into Flick’s high-intensity tactical system.