Barcelona are reportedly weighing up striker options to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski, although their first shortlist features at least one highly unrealistic one. target.
Lewandowski recently celebrated his 36th birthday. But while the Polish veteran has started the new season in fine form, scoring four goals in his first five La Liga appearances, the club cannot ignore the fact that he is already in the latter stages of his career.
Barca spent a lot of money on Vitor Roque until they quickly decided the young Brazilian wasn’t what they wanted. In the summer, he was loaned out to Real Betis for the season, with the option of a further year and a permanent loan for just a slight loss.
SPORT he writes that the Barcelona hierarchy is starting to discuss possible targets internally and there are three names that have gained more strength so far.
The first is the obvious one: Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker is arguably the world’s top goalscorer, with 99 goals in his first 104 games. His career for club and country to date stands at an astonishing 284 at just 24 years of age. Most don’t make it in a career.
But even if the City is severely punished for alleged financial defaults and there is a fire sale, Barça it would still struggle to compete financially with other expected suitors. The Norwegian is one of City’s biggest earners on more than €24m (£20m) a season. The asking price could also be around €175m (£147m), depending on the circumstances at the time.
Only slightly less realistic than chasing Haaland is going after Viktor Gyokeres. Previously a lower league player for most of his career, the Swede had a breakout season with Sporting CP in 2023/24 when he scored 43 goals in all competitions and already has nine in 2024/25 .
But with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain all linked with Gyokeres, as well as a €100m (£84m) release clause that Sporting has vehemently refused to negotiate, the 26-year-old could also be out of Barcelona’s price range.
At €65m (£54.5m), RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko could be more affordable. It’s a similar amount to Dani Olmo last summer, while Sesko is it is already understood that there is an agreement with Leipzig facilitating his exit next summer, although he has recently signed a new contract. Of the three options on Barcelona’s lips, it is the cheapest but the least prolific.
