Barcelona has been looking for a potential successor to Robert Lewandowski, the oldest player on the team. While this reflects his age, it is also a point of pride for him, particularly due to his outstanding performances this season, where he has regained his best form after a challenging year both on a personal and collective level.
The arrival of Hansi Flick at Camp Nou has ended any doubts about Lewandowski’s place in the team, and he has returned to being one of the club’s most prominent players, as well as one of the best in the world. However, his future remains uncertain, as his contract expires in June, and no renewal talks have been revealed. In light of this, Lewandowski has started considering the possibility of moving elsewhere, potentially to an unexpected destination.
Reports on Lewandowski’s departure suggest it will create a significant gap in Barcelona’s squad, but the club has already identified potential replacements. Viktor Gyökeres is seen as the ideal candidate to take over from the Polish striker. The Swedish forward has become one of the world’s top players with his impressive performances at Sporting Lisbon.
Both Barcelona President Joan Laporta and football director Deco are keen on Gyökeres, believing he would be a valuable addition. With a release clause of €80m, the club is well-positioned to afford him.
While it is difficult to compare the two directly, Gyökeres’ numbers this season are even more impressive than Lewandowski’s. The Swedish striker has scored 23 goals and provided 4 assists in 17 matches, while Lewandowski has netted 19 goals and made 2 assists in 16 games. These stats make Gyökeres a strong candidate to be the main option for Flick’s Barcelona project.
