A new report from ESPN has confirmed that Barcelona are stepping up plans to sign a new striker this summer as they prepare for life after Robert Lewandowski. The 37-year-old’s contract expires in June, and while no final call has been made on his future, the club is already exploring replacements. Lewandowski has made 16 La Liga appearances this season for Barca, scoring 9 and assisting another 2.
Barcelona looking at Juventus and Atlético Madrid stars as potential Robert Lewandowski Replacements
The ESPN report mentions that the names on Barça’s shortlist are Julián Álvarez and Dusan Vlahovic. Club president Joan Laporta is reportedly keen on Álvarez and still hopes to land the Atlético Madrid star, seeing him as the perfect fit. However, sporting director Deco is also considering more affordable options as Barça balances ambition with finances.
Barcelona’s pursuit of a new striker is more complicated than expected though, as Arsenal are also exploring a possible move for Julián Álvarez. With competition rising and costs high, Barça sporting director Deco is looking closely at alternative options.
One of those is Dusan Vlahovic, who has long been on Barcelona’s radar, even before his 2022 move from Fiorentina to Juventus. His contract situation makes him particularly attractive this summer. Despite currently being sidelined with a groin injury, the 25-year-old had six goals and two assists in 17 appearances this season before his setback.
Álvarez, meanwhile, remains a dream target. Barcelona have tracked him for years, dating back to before his transfer to Manchester City, following strong recommendations from scouts in South America. However, landing him will be extremely difficult. He is under contract with Atlético Madrid until 2030, has already scored 11 goals in 29 games this season, and carries a massive €500 million release clause. Club sources admit there is still “a long way to go,” in regards to the Alvarez pursuit, and Barcelona are closely monitoring how the situation develops.
Our opinion On Barcelona's search for a Robert Lewandowski Replacement
We feel that Julian Alvarez is the perfect player to replace Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona. The fact he's Argentine as well is sure to make fans nostalgic about their former legend Lionel Messi, and Alvarez has all the talent in the world to reach world-class levels similar to Messi, although equally it would be nearly impossible. However, realistically speaking, any chances of a Barcelona deal for Alvarez looks slim to none as the player is expected to be sold only at a massive transfer fee, which is something Barcelona can't offer in their current financial situation.
Thus, Dusan Vlahovic looks to be the most realistic option for Barcelona out of the 2 strikers to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski. However, we are not sure if the player is a right fit for Barca and if he'll succeed in La Liga. Let us wait and see how Barcelona end up replacing a player who has been one of their best strikers in modern history.
