The Future of Barcelona’s Centre Forward
With Robert Lewandowski now 37 years old, Barcelona is in need of a new centre forward and there are several intriguing options for them to consider. When the club signed Lewandowski back in 2022, there were already suggestions that the lethal Polish striker may be past his prime, but he has proven those doubters wrong and more.
Lewandowski has scored 105 goals in 156 games for Barcelona, surpassing his goal tally at Dortmund. However, it is undeniable that the No.9 is nearing the end of his career. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, here are six strikers who could potentially fill his boots at Camp Nou.
Erling Haaland – The Ultimate Goal Machine
How do you replace an imposing yet clinical centre forward? Simple, buy another one. Erling Haaland is like Lewandowski but faster, and the Norwegian robot has made a habit of scoring goals wherever he goes.
At Dortmund, Haaland maintained an almost one goal per game ratio, and after joining Manchester City in 2022, he has scored 136 goals in 155 games for Pep Guardiola’s team. Any club in the world would be eager to have the 6ft 4′ striker on their books, but the reality is, he is unlikely to leave soon.
In January of this year, City extended his contract with an astonishing nine-year deal, tying him to the club until 2034. On a reported £525,000 a week, he is well compensated. By the time that deal ends, Haaland will be 34, but football contracts can often be flexible if a player wants to move. In Haaland’s case, it is hard to see why he would want to leave the Etihad, given he is the main man at a club capable of challenging for the biggest trophies.
The allure of Barcelona may sway him, but it would take an astronomical fee for City to even consider negotiations, and the Spanish club cannot afford that right now.
Serhou Guirassy – A Bundesliga Star
If Haaland is out of the question, an alternative could be Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy. In the 2023-24 season, only Harry Kane outscored the Guinea international in the Bundesliga, and he is in the Haaland mould of being a complete striker.
Guirassy possesses the pace and power that his Dortmund record also showcases, but there are some concerns regarding injuries. He has missed a total of 76 games in his career so far. There is also the question of his age, as he turns 30 in March. Given that Dortmund signed him in 2024 to a four-year deal, it would be a question of whether Barcelona would be willing to spend the money needed to bring him to the Camp Nou.
Marcus Rashford – A Loan Option
Rashford is already at the club but only in a loan capacity, with Barcelona reportedly having the option to pay £26.2m to make the deal permanent. When Rashford joined, there was the assumption that Barca would not end up paying that amount, but a bright start to his career at the Camp Nou, including decisive goals against Newcastle in the Champions League, may have the hierarchy reconsidering his long-term future.
However, even if they did sign him permanently, Rashford may not solve Barcelona’s No.9 issues. The player has repeatedly shown that he is better out wide. Having him on board permanently would bring some depth, but Barcelona could find themselves having to fork out two transfer fees to sign Rashford and then a new No.9.
Julian Alvarez – A Valuable Asset
If club president Joan Laporta had his way, Atletico’s Julian Alvarez would be in the Blaugrana next season. Since signing from City, the Argentine has grown into not only one of the best players at Atletico but one of the best in the league.
With 36 goals in 66 games, including seven in nine this season, Alvarez has made a great start to his Atletico career. Even if Barcelona wanted him, pulling him away from Diego Simeone’s side would be a tough order. The 25-year-old has a deal until 2030, and his release clause is set at €500m.
Harry Kane – A Proven Goal Scorer
Barcelona signing Bayern’s No.9 is exactly how they ended up with Lewandowski, and repeating the trick would not be the worst idea in the world. Harry Kane is five years younger than the Polish striker and has been scoring goals for fun since moving to Germany.
He won the European Golden Shoe in his first year and only three players scored more goals than him last campaign. This season, he has picked up where he left off with 18 goals in 10 games. If he wins another league title with Bayern and then has World Cup success with England, a Ballon d’Or shout isn’t out of the question.
As to his future, he has two years left on his Bayern deal and has recently poured cold water on a Premier League return, so perhaps he could fancy a stint at another European giant. For Barcelona, they would be putting themselves in a similar situation to when they signed Lewandowski, but when a player is that lethal in front of goal, it is an attractive prospect regardless of how old he is.
Ferran Torres – A Versatile Option
If Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is to be believed, the replacement for Lewandowski is already at the club in the form of Ferran Torres. Barcelona, like many top European sides, does not rely on their No.9 to be their sole output for goals.
With Lamine Yamal on one side and Raphinha on the other, the Catalans are not going to be short up front any time soon. The striker spot at Barcelona does not necessarily have to be a 30-goal-a-season man but someone like Torres who can link up play just as well could be the answer.
Deco suggested the club should not be “obsessed” with finding a new No.9 and that Torres has already played centrally under Hansi Flick. Not to mention that Torres is still young at 25 and would allow funds to be spent elsewhere.
