Barça want to sign a Plan B striker and Fernando Llorente is top of the list

There have been talks at FC Barcelona this week about who how to improve the squad moving forward. A central midfielder remains the priority, but one of the more surprising targets is a central striker. 

Not to come in as a regular, though, but to offer a Plan B in certain matches. The preferred option is Fernando Llorente, a player well known inside the Barça dressing room and one who could fill this role perfectly. 

Luis Enrique and Ariedo Braida, who heads the sporting commission put to together in the wake of Andoni Zubizarreta's departure, have been weighing up their options this week. 

They are interested in signing a goal scorer with different characteristics to Luis Suarez. 

The season is very long and they are convinced that a physical, tall striker would add another aspect to the side. In fact, they spoke about the defeats to Malaga and Celta Vigo and suggested someone like Llorente may have been able to break down the defensive walls in those matches. 

Basically, the idea is that a striker with quality in the air would offer other options in matches -- and Barça don't lack the quality when it comes to delivering balls into the box. 

And Llorente is the No.1 target. He knows the Spanish league, is friends with many of the first team squad and fits all the requirements of a traditional No.9. 

He is not a regular at Juventus and the Italian club would be prepared to sell him. 

Braida has a good relationship with Juve's sporting director, Giuseppe Marotta. They have spoke about Paul Pogba a lot in recent months, but also about Llorente, who would cost around €12million. 

Barça have not spoke directly with Llorente, though. He wants to feel important again and clubs like Valencia or Tottenham may be prepared to offer him a more prominent role in their sides. 

He is 30 and this may be his last big move -- he needs to choose carefully. 

If a deal for Llorente doesn't come off, Barça are looking at the alternatives. One of those is Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko. The English side are ready to sell for around €20million.

However, Dzeko would want a large wage and Barça may consider that a stumbling block for a player who is not being signed to start regularly. 

German forward Mario Gomez (Fiorentina) and Italian striker Graziano Pelle (Southampton) are other ideas on the table.

The operation is not a priority; the club are more focused on sorting out the right-back area and signing a central midfielder. But Pep Guardiola and Gerardo Martino had both previously requested a striker of this type -- now it seems it may become a reality.