BIt’s nothing new for Arcelona to be obsessed with signing world-class goalscorers, but it’s still a long way from happening. Names such as Julian Álvarez and Erling Haaland are very popular in the Catalan capital, but it is impossible to close these deals at the moment. Manchester City and Atletico Madrid are both in difficult situations and their departures are seen as nothing short of a pipe dream.
Meanwhile, the club is being realistic about what it can strengthen for the summer of 2026. The board has already marked three positions for priority consideration: a centre-forward, a left-sided centre-back and a winger to widen his attacking options.
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Lewandowski’s successor is top priority
The position most urgently in need of reinforcement is the “9” position. At Barcelona, they understand that the club’s finances are not yet in a position to pay an exorbitant contract. That’s why, even though they dream of becoming a superstar, they’re also thinking about replacing Robert Lewandowski and considering second and third replacement players.
Their radar also includes the names of Borussia Dortmund striker Selous Guirassi and even Harry Kane, whose age could make it easier to move at a lower cost.
Left-handed center back in January if numbers allow.
The next thing to focus on is defense. The departure of Iñigo Martínez has left a clear gap, but the club has not ruled out a move even in January, numbers and financial fair play permitting. The priority is a left-sided centre-back who can play an immediate role in Hansi Flick’s system.
Barcelona have suffered an alarming loss of goals this season and the board believes there is an urgent need for defensive reinforcements to balance the squad.
Laporta secures financial strength but acts cautiously
President Joan Laporta admitted that the club is now in a period of economic recovery and is now in a position to consider contracts more freely. “Today we can play against the players you are talking about. We can face any strategy we want… but we will not make decisions that will destabilize the structure of the sport,” he said.
This message is consistent with the club’s stance. That means they can sign players but not jeopardize the financial stability they have been trying to restore in recent years.
Big dreams, now far away
Haaland has signed a historic and virtually unattainable contract with Manchester City until 2034. Julián Álvarez is also no longer a viable option due to Atlético Madrid’s ownership change, further reinforcing the Madrid club’s stance.
Barcelona will continue to monitor the market closely, keeping an eye on Plan B and opportunities that could strengthen their squad in need of immediate action.
