Barcelona view Julian Alvarez as Robert Lewandowski's ideal replacement amid talk of transfer bid for Atletico Madrid star

Barcelona have made a clear decision on who they want to lead their front line after Lewandowski leaves and that man is Alvarez. According to reports from Cadena SER, club president Joan Laporta has said that Alvarez has jumped ahead of other targets like Rafael Leao. The idea is not to sign him immediately, but to plan for the 2026–27 season, when Lewandowski’s current contract ends and he is expected to leave the club.

The Polish star may be 36 years old, but he’s still performing at an elite level. With 42 goals this season across all competitions in the 2024-25 campaign, his importance to the team remains unmatched. The Catalan giants are thinking ahead, however, and know they will need a striker who can hit similar heights.

Former Manchester City striker Alvarez had an outstanding season at Atletico Madrid, scoring 29 goals in all competitions. However, signing him won’t be easy. Atletico paid €75 million (£63m/$86m) for him and have locked him in with a €500m (£420m/$570m) release clause. Their president Enrique Cerezo has already said Alvarez is not for sale.

La Liga champions Barca will monitor the Argentine striker closely throughout the next season while they continue to rebuild their finances as they keep their eye open for Lewandowski's successor.