Exclusive: Barcelona veteran expected to leave this summer despite Laporta’s ‘incalculable’ respect towards him | OneFootball

Even though we are still in the January transfer window, FC Barcelona are already planning for next season and have begun laying out the roadmap for the summer.

One position which appears to be a top priority for the Blaugrana seems to be the centre-forward area.

Barça have relied on Robert Lewandowski as their main striker for the past three years, with Ferran Torres emerging as a serious alternative this time around.

However, the veteran striker will be turning 38 next season and his contract expires in June, leading to question marks over his future.

Lewandowski expected to move on

Now, according to exclusive information provided to Barça Universal by journalist Adrian Sanchez, Lewandowski is indeed expected to move on from the club in the summer.

The 37-year-old veteran is a well-liked figure within the club and as per the information, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has ‘incalculable’ respect for him.

Likely to move on. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Despite that, everything suggests that the Blaugrana are not going to extend his stay at the club beyond the ongoing campaign.

Lewandowski’s exit would open the doors for Barcelona to bring in a top striker, such as Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, although much would depend on whether they are back to the 1:1 Financial Fair Play rule.

Alternatively, it has been suggested that the veteran forward could be given a short-term extension, provided he accepts a reduced role in the team and a lower salary corresponding to that role.

With five months left, it remains to be seen how things evolve between Lewandowski and Barcelona.