With Luis Suarez's absence likely to stretch to four months Barcelona have lost over 40 per cent of their goals.
Suarez had scored 25 of the side's 61 goals this season - the Uruguayan was already a man without a natural replacement and Quique Setien admitted on Monday the club were talking about and considering making a move in the transfer market.
With a lack of goals in the team - and Barca limping to a 2-1 victory over third-tier Ibiza in the cup on Wednesday night, Sportsmail looks at the options and asks who would best fit the new coach's Barcelona team?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Barcelona are already sounding desperate on this one, talking about the possibility of the Arsenal player putting in a transfer request to force a move. The 30-year-old's contract runs to 2021 and as much as Raul Sanllehi is a former Barca man he is not going to be doing his old club any favours.
There is also the doubt over how long he would take to adjust to playing for Barcelona. No one doubts his quality but he might need time and it's time that, in the middle of the season, Setien does not really have.
Suitability 2/5
Olivier Giroud
Again no doubting the quality and he would occupy the opposition centre backs in a way that Luis Suarez has done over the last five years. He is also on a free in June so Barcelona's cash-flow problems (they have budgeted to sell a player mid-season, not buy one) might not be an obstacle.
There would still be a period of adjustment although fellow World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann might help. He's fallen out of favour at Chelsea under Frank Lampard and is desperate to leave Stamford Bridge.
Suitability 3/5
Fernando Llorente
The former Tottenham striker is now at Napoli but has only started three league games. He has big game experience and would fit into the squad but it's been a while since he was really effective.
Some argue he would give Barcelona an option to go slightly more direct late in games, but sticking Pique up front works just as well if that's the plan. It's also not likely to be the plan too often under purist Setien.
Suitability 2/5
Edinson Cavani
No one will argue about his quality but Cavani would want to be first choice. That might work while Suarez is out but what happens when he returns. In the short term it's a reasonable fix but in the long-term it creates a problem.
Barcelona already have one 32-year-old Uruguayan centre-forward, they don't really need two. They could offer him something short-term but that will not convince him to come when Atletico Madrid want him for the long haul.
Suitability 1/5
Cristhian Stuani
Another Uruguayan, and one who has proved he can score goals in Spain. He is currently at second division Girona where he is the highest paid player in the second tier.
He is 33-years-old though and his buy-out clause is £17million. It looks a non-runner. He is also a player who will bring mainly 'just goals'. Barcelona are the highest scorers in Spain so whoever turns up needs to offer more.
Suitability 1/5
Rodrigo
The 28-year-old Valencia striker ticks a lot of boxes. He would get goals, he knows the league, he's a good age, he could play in one of the wide positions in the front three if Setien's plan is to keep Lionel Messi central or, looking ahead, to a Suarez return.
His 10 assists this season underline how much he would fit Setien's style and he would bring intensity in the high press that Barcelona have so lacked. The problem? He will cost £42m. Barcelona's chances of persuading Valencia to let them have their player now but pay later are slim.
Suitability 5/5
Chimy Avila
The sensation of the season in Spain, Osasuna's 25-year-old Argentine would also bring intensity, desire, and no shortage of talent and goals. He is currently on a steep upward climb in his career – last season he did well for Huesca but they still went down, this season he is doing even better for mid-table Osasuna.
It would be a gamble to give him the chance to make another (huge) step up but a fun one. There is one big problem however. He does not have an EU passport and Barcelona already have three non-EU players.
Suitability 2/5
Lautaro Martinez
Inter's gem is only 22 and may well already have been the player Barcelona have picked out to replace Luis Suarez at the end of the season.
Barcelona may be able to pay less than his £94m buy-out clause which will no longer stand in the middle of July, but right now – for all that he would be a fantastic solution – they are not going to be able to persuade Inter to sell.
Suitability 5/5
