Arsenal set to battle Premier League rivals in the race to sign 22-year-old forward | OneFootball

Barcelona circle in on Etta Eyong move as striker sets January deadline

Barcelona are accelerating their long term number nine search and Levante forward Etta Eyong has emerged as a headline name on the recruitment board. With Robert Lewandowski, now 37, approaching the end of his contract and expected to depart at season end, planning for succession has moved from theoretical exercise to urgent sporting strategy. Mundo Deportivo report that the 22 year old Cameroonian has notified suitors that he intends to resolve his next step during the January window.

Rising talent in LaLiga spotlight

Eyong has been one of LaLiga’s breakout performers this campaign. He has six goals and three assists across his time at Villarreal and Levante, numbers that speak to both consistency and adaptability. The MD piece reminds us that “the current Levante striker has become one of the revelations of LaLiga” and that his threat has travelled too, with one memorable detail noting that he has scored against Real Madrid every time he has faced them.

Barcelona view Eyong as a viable successor to Lewandowski, particularly given his profile, mobility and upward career curve. A source close to negotiations is said to have stated “Etta wants clarity, he wants his next club to show conviction.” That stance mirrors MD’s reporting that “Eyong’s plan is to resolve his future in the upcoming January transfer window.”

Premier League clubs circle

This is not a single bidder story. Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City are all tracking developments, as is Real Madrid. Premier League interest comes with an unavoidable caveat, namely a higher €40 million release fee compared with the €30 million price for LaLiga rivals. Arsenal in particular are monitoring forward options for 2026 squad evolution and believe Eyong’s pace and directness align with their recruitment pathway.

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Barcelona may still need regulatory cooperation. Their bid to sign Eyong last summer stalled under Financial Fair Play constraints and they hope La Liga “reinstates the 1:1 rule in January” to facilitate incomings. Eyong would nevertheless remain at Levante until the season’s end due to playing registration rules, which prohibit a third club this campaign.

Emotional pull and competitive edge

Eyong once wore the Barcelona shirt at youth level and reportedly retains admiration for the club. That emotional tie gives Barcelona a potential advantage, although winning the race remains contingent on timing, clarity and economic freedom.

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Arsenal supporters will read this story with a mix of curiosity and competitive anxiety. Eyong feels like the type of emerging LaLiga profile that top Premier League clubs once missed out on before continental scouting modernised. Six goals and three assists in ten matches, plus an international debut and the confidence to demand clarity, paints the picture of a forward who is both ready for the step up and conscious of the opportunity window.

There is a romantic thread to Barcelona’s interest, given his childhood connection, but romance rarely beats Premier League financial muscle. What may matter more is role clarity. At Arsenal, Eyong would compete with the existing striker cohort and potentially a marquee forward signing. At Barcelona, he is entering a project designed around replacing Lewandowski immediately, or at least within a defined pathway.

The fee is relatively modest. For Premier League clubs who regularly spend north of £50 million on rotation attackers, €40 million feels like smart upside investment. The catch is timing. Eyong insists on a January agreement and then wants to stay on loan at Levante. For squads chasing titles or depth mid season, that may reduce urgency.

Still, Arsenal have moved decisively in similar markets, especially when convinced by development trajectory. Supporters will hope the club do not stand still. If Barcelona secure him under Financial Fair Play relaxation, it could read like another continental talent slipping away. If an English club intervene, Eyong could become one of the next Premier League breakout imports.