Barcelona is looking for striker No. 9 to succeed Lewandowski

Robert Lewandowski’s contract with Barcelona expires next summer, and expectations within the club suggest he will leave on a free transfer. Should that happen, Barcelona would find themselves forced to enter the transfer market in search of a top-class striker to replace what head coach Hansi Flick once described, in a press conference last season, as “the best number nine of the past decade,” when speaking about the 37-year-old forward.

It is difficult to overstate the transformative impact Lewandowski has had since joining from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2022. Barcelona had gone three seasons without winning the league title and finished the 2021–2022 campaign with just 73 points — their lowest tally since the 2007–2008 season, before Pep Guardiola took charge.

Since then, Barcelona have won La Liga twice: first under Xavi in the 2022–2023 season, and again last season in Flick’s debut year as head coach. Lewandowski was central to both triumphs thanks to his decisive goalscoring, having netted 109 goals in 165 appearances in a Barcelona shirt.

Yet his influence has not been limited to his finishing alone. The average age of Barcelona’s starting line-ups in the league this season stands at 25.3 years — the youngest in La Liga. Lewandowski’s vast experience at the highest level has helped instil a winning mentality and provided the leadership required to guide this young generation back to the summit.

Finding a ready-made replacement will be no easy task. The market for elite strikers is extremely limited, with most top names tied down to long-term contracts at Europe’s biggest clubs. Barcelona’s volatile financial situation further complicates matters, making it difficult to determine how much the club will be able to spend next summer.

Against this backdrop, The Athletic has identified four potential options, ranging from elite, marquee targets to more financially realistic alternatives.

If money were no obstacle, Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez would be the dream signing for Barcelona president Joan Laporta, as The Athletic has previously reported. The reason is clear: Álvarez has shone in Spain since arriving from Manchester City last August, quickly justifying his €95 million price tag.

Atlético coach Diego Simeone has not hidden his admiration for the Argentine international, describing him as the team’s “best player” and “the difference-maker” after his hat-trick in a 3–2 win over Rayo Vallecano in September. Since the start of last season, only three players — including Lewandowski himself — have scored more La Liga goals than Álvarez, who has netted 24.

However, Álvarez offers a different profile from Lewandowski. While the Polish striker is defined by his intelligent, economical movement off the ball, Álvarez relies on high energy and intense pressing when possession is lost. Counter-pressing is a core element of Barcelona’s philosophy, especially with the high defensive line preferred by Flick — an approach that has left the team exposed at times this season. This is where Álvarez’s value becomes evident: his ability to track back and apply pressure helps reduce those vulnerabilities, while also easing the physical burden on players such as Lamine Yamal. That said, Atlético Madrid are fully aware of their player’s worth, and any attempt to sign him would require a huge financial outlay. Moreover, if Flick is seeking a classic, out-and-out number nine, Álvarez may not be the ideal fit, given his lighter physical build and his familiarity with playing alongside a more physically dominant striker such as Alexander Sørloth. One of his least influential performances this season came against Barcelona, when he played as a lone striker and struggled to provide attacking solutions.

This brings into focus the option of a more physically imposing striker — someone who can occupy defenders inside the penalty area and create space for wide players, much like Lewandowski does. Among the names with a similar playing style, Bournemouth forward Evanilson emerges as a lower-cost alternative.

His goalscoring numbers are not particularly convincing, having scored just 12 goals since the start of last season, while missing a significant number of big chances compared to his expected goals — something that may not be acceptable at Camp Nou. However, his coach Andoni Iraola consistently praises his all-round contribution, stressing that his impact goes beyond scoring, thanks to his aggressive pressing, physical presence, and ability to link play.

What about a profile that combines the instincts of a traditional striker with the creativity of a playmaker? This is where Harry Kane comes into the picture. The Bayern Munich forward has evolved his role since moving to the Bundesliga, often dropping deeper to create chances while maintaining an impressive scoring rate, with 30 goals in 25 matches this season.

Although Kane, who will turn 33 in July, has shown no desire to leave, his contract includes a €65 million release clause that could become active in the summer. If triggered, Barcelona could find themselves with a ready-made solution — and possibly one within their financial reach.

The riskiest option on the list is young striker Samu Aghehowa, 21, who is enjoying an impressive season with Porto, scoring nine goals in 14 matches in the Portuguese league. While success in Portugal does not always translate to a higher level, his potential is clear.

His playing style is built on physical power and aggressive movement inside the box, with less emphasis on dropping deep or creating play. He still needs refinement, but his strength and goalscoring instinct make him a promising long-term prospect. He may not be ready to lead Barcelona’s attack immediately, but the presence of Ferran Torres — who has scored 11 goals this season — could give the club the flexibility to invest in long-term development. If finding a like-for-like replacement for Lewandowski is nearly impossible and prohibitively expensive, then investing in talent and sharing attacking responsibility may prove to be the most sensible path for Barcelona as they look to build their next number nine.