FORMER Middlesbrough forward Cristhian Stuani is set for an unexpected January move – to become the main form of cover for Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona.

Having allowed Munir El Haddadi to join Sevilla, Barcelona need to sign a forward capable of deputising for Messi or Suarez if either of the club’s superstar attackers suffers an injury.

The La Liga leaders are using to breaking the bank to sign forwards – last January, they signed Phillipe Coutinho for Liverpool for £142m – but their next acquisition looks set to be much cheaper.

Stuani has a €15m release clause in his current contract at Girona, and Barcelona are set to trigger it in order to take him to the Nou Camp.

Joining Barcelona would represent quite a career transformation for Stuani, who was part of the Middlesbrough side that was relegated to the Championship under Aitor Karanka.

Stuani spent two years at the Riverside, scoring 16 goals in 68 senior appearances, but was sold to Girona in the summer of 2017.

The 32-year-old has been in fine form this season, scoring 12 goals for a Girona side that currently sit in ninth position in La Liga, and his performances have alerted the recruitment team at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde regards him as a potentially useful acquisition, with Barcelona still involved in the latter stages of the Champions League as well as the race for the La Liga title.