Barcelona are reportedly planning for the future with a move for Karl Etta Eyong, a striker who is also on the radar of Manchester United and could impact Marcus Rashford's future
Barcelona are said to be tracking Manchester United-linked Karl Etta Eyong as a potential long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski – a move which could impact Marcus Rashford's future at the Nou Camp. The Red Devils loanee has enjoyed an excellent start to life in Spain.
Rashford has netted five times and provided seven assists in 13 outings so far this season. The temporary switch includes an option for the La Liga giants to make his stay permanent at the end of the season, which is believed to be in the region of £26.2m (€30m).
Both club and player are understood to be satisfied with the arrangement, and barring any setbacks, the England international is expected to complete a permanent transfer to the Nou Camp. Hansi Flick has predominantly deployed Rashford on the left, with Lewandowski operating through the middle and Raphinha on the right.
However, the Englishman demonstrated his versatility by excelling in a central role during a win over Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League earlier this month. Speaking to reporters after the 6-1 thrashing, Flick commented on Rashford's versatility.
"Marcus can be a No.9 or a No.11," said the Barcelona boss. "When we think of him, we value the fact that he can play in more than one position. He has given us a lot of positives and, of course, he can play as a centre-forward."
Lewandowski has been managed carefully by the Spanish champions in what might prove to be his final season at the club. It remains unclear whether the 37-year-old striker will pen a contract extension, but speculation has already begun to circulate, suggesting the club is preparing for his exit.
According to reports in Spain, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News, Barcelona and Real Madrid are keen to capitalise on the release clause in Etta Eyong's contract at Levante. The report claims that United, Manchester City, and Arsenal are also interested in the 22-year-old forward.
The report suggests that the release clause for Spanish clubs is set at €30m (£26.4m), while Premier League teams would have to pay a significantly higher €40m (£35.2m) to secure his services. Having kicked off the season with Villarreal before switching to Levante at the end of the summer transfer window, Eyong would be ineligible to play for Barcelona if they were to snap him up in January.
This is due to La Liga regulations, which permit players to represent more than two teams in a single season. For Rashford, Eyong's potential arrival might not cause much of a stir. His adaptability on the pitch has already been praised by Flick, with his ability to operate both out wide and centrally likely to prove advantageous.
The United loanee will be hoping to continue his excellent vein of form when Barcelona return to action this weekend. On Sunday afternoon, the Catalan giants will host Elche as they look to get back to winning ways after losing to Real Madrid in El Clascio.