Barcelona intensify search for Lewandowski replacement – two top targets identified | OneFootball

With less than six months left on his contract at FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski appears to be headed for the exit doors in the summer.

While it has not entirely been ruled out that the 37-year-old striker could be given a one-year extension, as things stand, everything points to his departure as a free agent at the end of the season.

Barcelona step up replacement hunt

As such, ESPN now reports that Barcelona have intensified their efforts to find a replacement for Lewandowski for the summer transfer window.

Julian Alvarez of Atletico Madrid and Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus have been identified as the top two targets by the La Liga champions, the report adds.

Alvarez has long been on the radars of the Blaugrana, with the club having tracked him from his days at River Plate, before he moved to Manchester City and later to Atletico Madrid.

The 25-year-old World Cup winner is seen as the ‘dream’ target by Barça president Joan Laporta, even though there are expected to be a lot of complications in the deal.

On Barcelona’s shortlist. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

For starters, Atletico Madrid will demand a transfer fee well in excess of €100 million for their ace striker.

Beyond that, Barcelona are likely to face competition for the Argentine international, with Arsenal among his admirers.

Given the scenario, Deco is keeping an eye on low-cost alternatives, which is where Vlahovic enters the fray. After all, the Serbian international’s contract at Juventus expires on 30 June, following which he will become a free agent.

Like with Alvarez, Vlahovic, too, has been on Barcelona’s radar for a number of years now. Currently sidelined with a groin injury, the Serb had scored six goals from 17 matches this season prior to that.

It remains to be seen who Barcelona decide to pursue in the end, but they are all set to step up their efforts to rope in a new striker come summer to replace Lewandowski.