La Liga giants believe they can finance a deal for a recognised elite forward in 2026
Barcelona are making plans to recruit a successor to Robert Lewandowski, with senior figures at the club convinced they can still recruit a top-level No 9 next summer despite their financial problems.
Lewandowski is entering the final stretch of his contract and could leave as a free agent at the end of the season. But even if he does stay an extra year, he is 37 and it is best practice for clubs to make succession plans for such important positions.
According to reports in Spain, the sporting department has compiled a shortlist of five strikers, with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane at the top.
Alvarez is currently the leading option. Kane is understood to be on the list and is considered a realistic possibility, although working out a deal to bring him from Munich to Catalonia may prove tricky. Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy are among the other profiles being monitored.
The final name on the shortlist is Levante’s Etta Eyong, a low-cost alternative. The Cameroon international has impressed for Levante since joining them in the summer, scoring six goals in 12 games so far.
Despite rumours, any pursuit of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland is unrealistic and highly unlikely.
Barcelona believe they can finance a deal for a recognised elite forward once Lewandowski leaves and his high wages are removed from the books. Projected revenue from the reopening of the Camp Nou with its planned VIP seating also inspires confidence internally that the club will be in a position to structure the transfer of a marquee centre-forward.
