Barcelona closely monitor 22-year-old Cameroonian forward at Africa Cup of Nations – Report | OneFootball

The center-forward position is one of the areas of their that FC Barcelona are reportedly looking to strengthen in the coming few months. This is especially the case as Robert Lewandowski is already 37 years of age and is in the last year of his contract.

The Catalans have been linked with several players to replace the Pole, and one of the names that has been associated with them for quite a while is the Levante forward Etta Eyong, who has been highly impressive with his goal-scoring record in this first half of the 2025-26 season.

There is no doubt that he could be a very interesting addition to the Barcelona team. In fact, SPORT reports that Barcelona are closely monitoring Eyong at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, which represents his first major international tournament.

Club scouts have been sent to assess his performances in a high level competitive environment, and the early signs have been encouraging. Eyong scored on his tournament debut against Gabon, delivering a decisive victory for Cameroon and further underlining his growing reputation as a reliable goalscorer.

Eyong had already attracted Barcelona interest last summer, and the club seriously considered a move at the time. However, financial restrictions linked to the salary cap prevented what would have been a very favourable operation. Since then, his market value has increased following his breakthrough at Levante, but Barcelona’s interest has not faded.

The striker is almost certain to be placed on the market from June onwards. His valuation is effectively defined by the agreement between Villarreal and Levante, with both clubs expected to accept an offer in the region of €15 million.

His release clause, meanwhile, stands at €30 million. From Barcelona’s perspective, he is viewed as a low cost option with significant upside, a strategic bet on an emerging talent whose value could rise sharply if he continues to shine at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Eyong has never hidden his dream of playing for Barcelona. Last summer, he delayed making a decision until the final moments after learning of the club’s interest, before eventually opting to join Levante in order to secure regular playing time and continue his development in La Liga.

In addition to Eyong, Barcelona scouts were also impressed by another player during the Cameroon versus Gabon encounter. The 22 year old left footed centre back Samuel Kotto caught the eye with his physical presence, composure on the ball and overall maturity.

Currently playing for Gent, Kotto is seen as a potential investment for the future as Barcelona continue to track emerging defensive talent across Europe and international tournaments.