Cristhian Stuani to Barca? Why Girona striker is No.1 transfer target

Barcelona have made former Middlesbrough forward Cristhian Stuani their No.1 January transfer target.

The Blaugrana are desperate to add another striker to their ranks, as they look to ease Luis Suarez's workload and having lost Munir to Sevilla.

Ernesto Valverde's side are once more top of La Liga, but the Champions League is their major aim for the season, having seen Real Madrid dominate in recent years.

To claim both there has been an increased importance placed on keeping players fresh for the run-in - having fallen to what club chiefs have seen as 'lesser' sides in Europe in recent seasons.

But with Munir's exit, there is a lack of options in the No.9 role and the club are wary of overworking Suarez, who has already made 28 appearances this season and turns 32 later this month.

That has seen Barcelona scour Europe for a potential back up to the ex-Liverpool hitman.

And 18 months after his exit from the Riverside Stadium, the Catalan giants are set to land Stuani.

A Uruguayan international himself (46 caps, 5 goals), Stuani left Middlesbrough in 2017 after two seasons in the North East.

Stuani struck seven times in 36 games - bagging 11 in 40 in all competitions - as Aitor Karanka's side secured promotion in 2015-16.

But as 'Boro fell to relegation the following year, he managed just four goals in 25 Premier League outings, albeit often playing from a wide midfield position.

That led him back to Spain - having previously spent three years with Espanyol and also spells on loan at Racing Santander, Albacete and Levante - with Girona.

And having reverted to a central striking role, Stuani has thrived back in Catalunya, rebuilding his reputation as a hard-working, effective frontman and a consistent goalscorer.

Operating as the focal point of their attack under Pablo Machin last term, Stuani scored 21 times in 33 La Liga outings as the newly-promoted side finished a more than respectable 10th.

Only Lionel Messi, Suarez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Iago Aspas found the net more often.

This season, despite Machin's defection to north London and the arrival of Eusebio Sacristan as head coach, Stuani is once more playing a starring role.

Girona have won just five of their 19 games, but they still find themselves ninth in the table, thanks to a strong defence which has ensured they've also lost only five games thus far.

Of 21 goals scored, Stuani has managed 12 - only Messi and Suarez have outscored him thus far.

With Girona, part-owned by the City Football Group, so reliant on his goals, Barcelona now face paying €15million (his release clause) to land the 31-year-old.

Barca boss Valverde is reported to prefer Stuani to other options, such as Celta Vigo's Maxi Gomez and Tottenham's Fernando Llorente - now set to stay at Spurs following Harry Kane's ankle injury.

Additionally, he also holds an Italian passport which is a major bonus as he won’t take up one of the club's non-EU spots.

There remains some consternation among club chiefs about spending big on a backup.

But having fallen short in Europe in recent years, Stuani is the No.1 pick to join this month.