Lewandowski's replacements have been identified. Barcelona have drawn up a list of desired strikers
Robert Lewandowski’s tenure as Barcelona’s primary striker may soon come to an end. While the Polish forward's contract runs until 2026, the club has already begun the search for his replacement, identifying a shortlist of potential forwards.
Details: Over the past year, Lewandowski's scoring output has significantly decreased. In his first season with Barcelona, he netted 33 goals, but last season that number dropped to 24. At 36, he still warrants a place in the starting lineup, though it’s likely that he will eventually have to relinquish that role.
Next summer, scouts from Saudi Arabian clubs are expected to come knocking once more for Lewandowski. Given Barcelona’s financial situation, they may be tempted to accept a transfer offer.
Earlier this year, the Catalans secured the signing of Vitor Roque, but the Brazilian failed to establish himself at the club and was subsequently transferred to Real Betis in the summer. Now, Barcelona is actively searching for new candidates to fill the striker position.
According to Sport, Barça has drawn up a preliminary list of three potential targets.
The most ambitious of these is Erling Haaland, but unless Barcelona resolves its financial issues soon, this option may be unrealistic.
The list also includes Viktor Gyökeres of Sporting and Benjamin Šeško from RB Leipzig. Although these players come with lower price tags than the Norwegian star, their estimated values of €65 million and €50 million, respectively (according to Transfermarkt), may still prove too steep for Barcelona. Furthermore, their current clubs are likely to demand even higher fees.
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Reminder: Apart from Lewandowski, Barcelona’s only other central forward this season is Pau Víctor, who was signed from Girona. It is highly probable that next summer, the Catalan club will intensify its efforts to secure a new attacking leader, though it remains uncertain who they will be able to afford.
Liam Garcia
Dailysports's expert