Barcelona are reported to be weighing up striker options to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski, although their early shortlist features at least one very unrealistic target.
Lewandowski recently celebrated his 36th birthday. But while the veteran Pole has started the new season in good form, scoring four times in his first five La Liga appearances, the club cannot ignore the fact that he is now well into the latter stages of his career.
Barca spent big money on Vitor Roque until deciding pretty quickly that the young Brazilian was not what they wanted. In the summer, he was loaned to Real Betis for the season, with both the option of a further year and a permanent transfer for only a slight loss.
SPORT writes that the Barcelona hierarchy are beginning to internally discuss possible targets and there are three names that have gained the most traction so far.
The first is the obvious: Erling Haaland. The Manchester City striker is undeniably the best goalscorer in the world, finding the net 99 times in his first 104 games for them. His career tally for club and country to date is an astonishing 284 by the age of just 24. Most don’t make that in a career.
But even if City are severely punished for alleged financial breaches and there is a fire sale, Barca would still struggle to compete financially with other expected suitors. The Norwegian is one of City’s highest earners on more than €24m (£20m) per season. The asking price could also be around €175m (£147m), depending on the circumstances at the time.
Only slightly less realistic than pursuing Haaland is going after Viktor Gyokeres. Previously a lower league player throughout most of his career, the Swede had a breakout season with Sporting CP in 2023/24 when he scored 43 times in all competitions and already has nine to his name 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 have vehemently refused to negotiate over, the 26-year-old might also be out of Barcelona’s price range.
At €65m (£54.5m), Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig might be more affordable. It is a similar amount to Dani Olmo this past summer, while Sesko is already understood to have an agreement in place with Leipzig that would facilitate his exit next summer, despite recently signing a new contract. Of the three options on Barcelona’s lips, he is the cheapest but the least prolific goalscorer.
