Barcelona, the Catalan giants, are undoubtedly enjoying the services of Robert Lewandowski, the prolific Polish striker who has been a revelation in La Liga. With 21 goals in the league and 9 in the Champions League, Lewandowski continues to defy age, maintaining his position among the world’s top strikers. However, as his 36th birthday approaches, Barcelona must start thinking about the future beyond their talismanic forward.
The Spanish media has reported that Lewandowski has already agreed to extend his contract until June 2026, which is a welcome respite for the Blaugrana faithful. However, this does not mean that the club can afford to rest on their laurels, especially considering the underwhelming performance of young Brazilian Vitor Roque, who was touted as Lewandowski’s potential successor.
In recent months, several names have been linked to Barcelona as potential replacements or reinforcements for Lewandowski. Jonathan David from Lille, Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting Lisbon, and Alexander Isak from Newcastle United are just a few examples of the talented strikers who could potentially fill the void left by Lewandowski.
According to renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona’s priority in the upcoming transfer window will be to strengthen their right-back position. „There is a very high chance that Barcelona will sign a new right-back. Of course, Jules Kounde is doing a great job, but the club will likely want to add another player to the mix,” Romano stated in his latest video on YouTube.
However, Romano also emphasized that Barcelona cannot afford to neglect the striker position, despite Lewandowski’s contract extension. „Let’s not forget about the striker position. Lewandowski will certainly extend his contract for another season, but Barcelona are seriously considering signing another striker,” the Italian journalist revealed.
This is a prudent approach from Barcelona, considering the club’s recent struggles in finding a suitable successor for Lewandowski. According to data from Transfermarkt, Barcelona’s youth academy has not produced a top-class striker since the emergence of Bojan Krkic in 2007. Furthermore, the club’s recruitment policy has not always been successful, as evident from the failed experiment with Vitor Roque.
By planning ahead and identifying potential strikers who can complement or eventually replace Lewandowski, Barcelona can ensure a smoother transition and maintain their status as one of Europe’s elite clubs.
Statistics:
* Robert Lewandowski’s goalscoring record in La Liga: 21 goals in 24 matches (as of March 2023)
* Lewandowski’s goalscoring record in the Champions League: 9 goals in 7 matches (as of March 2023)
* Barcelona’s youth academy’s striker production: 1 top-class striker (Bojan Krkic) since 2007 (according to Transfermarkt)
* Vitor Roque’s performance: 1 goal in 11 appearances for Barcelona’s first team (as of March 2023)