Barça has had a great season in terms of the performance of its squad, which promises a quiet summer for Joan Laporta. The priority for the Azulgrana team is to keep the current squad together with several renewals in progress, letting go of players whose situation is unsustainable within the club and freeing up salary space to be able to seal their clear objective in the transfer market.
Barça postpones signing a striker
Barça has been looking for a reliable striker to replace Lewandowski in recent months, but has finally changed its mind. During the Polish striker’s injury, Ferran Torres has been a reliable replacement, making the need for a new number 9 less urgent, as Deco himself said a few days ago.
When asked if FC Barcelona was looking for a striker, Deco was categorical: “No. For now, we are waiting to sit down with the coach. We believe that no one is going to leave. Because the normal thing is that any player wants to be part of this. If that’s the case, we’re happy.” “We have players in the squad who are capable of playing in that position, such as Ferran Torres. Or Dani Olmo and Fermín as false nines. This squad has solutions for when Robert is not there. We have to broaden our horizons. There are many teams like PSG that don’t have a center forward. Obsessing over a number nine is a waste of time,” he added.
Lewandowski ends the season as a centennial
Robert Lewandowski has returned to his best scoring form during his time at Bayern and has had his best scoring season with FC Barcelona since his arrival. The Polish striker ends the season with 42 goals in all competitions (27 in LaLiga, 11 in the Champions League, 3 in the Copa del Rey and 1 in the Spanish Super Cup).
He ended a goal drought that, combined with his injury, had left him without a goal since April 9. The Barça striker ended the season with a brace at San Mamés, which were his 100th and 101st goals in an FC Barcelona shirt. Age does not seem to be affecting the Polish striker, who has a contract until 2026, i.e. next summer, and has not yet signed a new deal.
Despite his great scoring season, the FC Barcelona striker was unable to win the LaLiga Pichichi title. Kylian Mbappé’s great end to the season saw the Frenchman finish with 31 goals in the domestic competition, ahead of the Pole’s 27.
Laporta’s bombshell for the 2026 transfer market
According to Okdiario, Barça plans to go all out to sign Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in 2026. Haaland has just renewed his contract with Manchester City until 2034, so Joan Laporta’s big target will not be an easy task. Haaland has always been a player who has been very popular with both Barça and Real Madrid.
The Catalan club will have a lot of financial improvements to make if it wants to go after the striker next summer. The deal would be around €175 million, in addition to having to make room for a salary that is not likely to be low. They have a year ahead of them, as the Catalan club is thinking of making the signing once Robert Lewandowski’s contract expires next summer in 2026.