Barcelona coach Hansi Flick will hold further conversations with sporting director Deco over signing a striker after the Spanish champions started their defence of LaLiga with a 5-0 win over Elche on Sunday.
Raphinha, playing in the No. 9 role, scored twice, with Fermín López also netting a brace and Karim Adeyemi on target on his debut as Barça ran riot at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.
Julián Álvarez remains Barça's top target to replace the departed Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, although ESPN reported earlier this week a deal is looking difficult with Atlético Madrid unwilling to transfer the Argentine.
Barça are also exploring other options to bolster their attack, but the display against Elche suggested they may not have to make a signing just for the sake of it.
"We will speak after this game [about signing a No.9]," Flick said in his post-match news conference.
"This was clear because Deco and I speak very often [about] what we can do and what is important. We wait [for now].
"We are happy that we won 5-0 and [got] three points because this is a fantastic start for us. It gives us the confidence we need for the next matches.
"At the end, a clean sheet, we defend very well, this is fantastic. Five goals against this team is very good, too.
"Elche play good football, they are very brave. We wanted to use the spaces they give us and, especially after the substitutions, we did it really good."
After a sloppy start, Barça produced a free flowing attacking display to begin the season in style at Elche.
Captain Raphinha won and converted a penalty to open the scoring before turning provider just before half-time for Adeyemi to score on his debut for the club.
Anthony Gordon, another debutant, then created two goals in six minutes after coming off the bench, first for Raphinha and then, unselfishly, for Fermín López.
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"I feel so good," Gordon told reporters. "I have felt so good since I arrived. The guys have made me feel so welcome, I feel at home already.
"The city is amazing. The people are so friendly. I will get better and better the longer I am here.
"It was a top performance. I think it was the perfect start, five goals scored and none conceded. We played some lovely football, scored great goals and, more importantly, I thought the defenders made some excellent last minute challenges and blocks."
Fermín then closed the rout with his second of the night, finishing well after good work from 19-year-old Xavi Espart, who played at left-back with Alejandro Balde cut from the squad.
Balde's omission was the big surprise pre-match, with Flick confirming the player was not in the right frame of mind to feature.
The academy graduate has been linked with Manchester United this week, among other clubs, and Flick is open to his departure, although the German coach insisted he will not force him out.
"No, I am not asking him to leave," he said of the situation. "This morning, I feel there is something [going on] with him.
"I spoke with him. I said in this moment I have this feeling, I think it's better that you get clear, think your thoughts and tomorrow we speak again.
"He agreed about this. Too many things are in his head, so this is why he's not here."
Barça's win was also tainted by an injury to Gavi, who went off at the end of the first half. He will have tests at the training ground on Monday to determine the extent of the problem.
"It's in the knee," Flick confirmed. "We have to wait. It's a little better than he expected when he got injured. After the game, it was much better. We will make an MRI and see."
