Henrik Larsson is leaving FC Barcelona for his hometown club Helsinborg, Sweden against the wishes of Barcelona?s fans and technical staff and the search to replace the Swedish idol has begun. Prime substitute Thierry Henry is not available after deciding to stay with Arsenal. The signing of a top striker has become a priority for technical secretary Txiki Begiristain. But he knows that replacing Larsson will be a difficult tasks. Barca want someone who is able to partner Cameroon international Eto'o up front, as well as provide a top quality alternative to La Liga?s best striker but who could even start from the bench due to the massive competition in the Barca attack.
Obviously Henry was not up for it and Arsenal?s vice chairman David Dein commented this: "I believe he also knew that if he went to a club like Barcelona or Real Madrid, he would just be a prince. Here he knows he is a king."


Due to special situations there are 4 absolute realistic targets in the transfer market:

Diego Forlan (Villareal, Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Trezeguet (both Juventus Turin).


FC Barcelona Blog reported month ago that Diego Forlan could be the replacement for Larsson when Thierry Henry should decide not to leave Arsenal. Txiki Begiristain is an admirer of Forlan?s deadly finishing skills and who finished top scorer in Spain's Primera Liga in 2004-2005.
Transfer rumours and newspaper reports say that transfer negotiations between FC Barcelona and Villarreal. Diego Forlan?s buy-out clause of his existing contract is reported as ? 23 Mill.


But their appear 3 other realistic candidates suddenly on the short list due to special situations:


The scandalous situation of Juventus Turin and Serie A in generally, makes it very likely that top strikers such as Trezeguet and Ibrahimovic want to move on. Van Nistelrooy's fall out with Alex Ferguson and Manchester United?s willingness to let the dutch international go has alerted Barca?s staff. All three top players with outstanding scoring skills have become realistic alternatives for FC Barcelona.


President Joan Laporta and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard are admirers of both, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and David Trezeguet and both players have already been very close to a move to the Nou Camp two years ago. Still young of age, Ibrahimovic's skills, finishing and versatility make him naturally a Barca target.


Earlier transfer rumours had suggested that Peruvian Jefferson Farfan of PSV could be on his way to Camp Now this summer. But this should be unlikely as a replacement for Larsson and only realistic if a player like Maxi would be moved. Additionally, Farfan is not a EU-Player which would make a possible transfer even more difficult.


A recent poll of newspaper "SPORT" revealed that Barca fans favour Zlatan Ibrahimovic (41%) followed by Van Nistelrooy (17%) Saviola (16%), Trezeguet (14%) and Forlan (12%) to step into the big boots of fans idol Larsson.