Barcelona looking for a ‘new Lewandowski’: here are the two options

There is no rush, as he will stay until 2026, but Barça are already gathering information on possible replacements for Lewandowski.

Robert Lewandowski won’t be around forever, even though Barcelona might wish he could be, given his stellar performances this season. The Polish striker’s contract ends in June 2026, when he’ll be 37, and the club must find a reliable replacement.

The role of the number nine is crucial for any team. Goals are the most sought-after commodity in soccer, and they usually come at a high price. That’s why the sports management team, led by Deco, needs to carefully plan Lewandowski’s succession. Although the Portuguese executive has stated that reinforcing the centre-forward position isn’t a priority yet, the club is already gathering information on potential replacements.

Lewandowski was rested for the win against Mallorca, with Ferran Torres stepping in. The Valencian forward did well, but he’s not seen solely as a number nine since he can play in all three offensive positions, similar to Ansu Fati, who is currently injured. However, neither is considered a viable long-term solution for Barcelona’s future centre-forward role. The club wants a specialist goal-scorer.

Barcelona highlight two forwards as Lewandowski replacements

One of the hottest prospects is Jonathan David from Lille. The Canadian player has publicly expressed his dream of playing for Barcelona. His contract ends in 2025, and he’s been stalling on renewing with his current club. These are two significant points in his favor, but Barcelona is still in the process of evaluating whether he fits their playing style and has the quality to become their main striker.

David has scored 13 goals and provided two assists in 19 matches this season. He’s also been a standout in the Champions League, scoring against Real Madrid, netting a brace against Atlético in just 25 minutes, and finding the back of the net against Juventus. These performances and stats suggest he’s capable of performing at the highest level against top-tier opponents. For now, Barcelona is monitoring him, along with other candidates.

Another contender is Viktor Gyökeres. The Sporting Club striker is highly regarded at Barcelona, but signing him would require a significant investment, around $85 million. His release clause is $106 million. Several top European clubs are also interested in him, especially in the Premier League, where he previously played but didn’t quite make his mark.

The Swedish player is emerging as a true goal-scorer this season. In the Portuguese league, he has 16 goals in 12 matches and five goals in the Champions League, including a hat trick against Manchester City in five games. His 2024 stats place him among the top goal-scorers in recent years, with 58 goals in 56 matches, and there’s still over a month left in the year.

There’s also talk in Barcelona that Joan Laporta dreams of running for re-election with the promise of signing Erling Haaland. As of now, this seems impossible, especially with Pep Guardiola’s contract renewal at Manchester City. The Norwegian striker is under contract with the ‘Citizens’ until 2027, but there is an ‘exit agreement’ starting in the summer of 2024, applicable to foreign clubs. The amount, however, is exorbitant, sitting at about $180 million. In any case, City want to offer Haaland a renewal with figures that Barcelona cannot reach.

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