At Barcelona, they're very clear that one of the major medium-term tasks will be to find a center forward to take over from Robert Lewandowski. The Polish footballer remains an important piece in the blaugrana's system, but the club is already planning its succession with an eye on the 2026 season. The idea is to go for a young profile, with potential and perfectly adapted to the play style Hansi Flick wants to impose.
In this regard, the sporting management led by Deco is already working with a specific name highlighted. Although this summer's transfer market is focused on other positions, such as left winger or full-back, Barça isn't losing sight of the need to secure its offensive future. The forward the Portuguese sporting director has in mind is modern, technical, and a goal scorer.
The '9' waiting for Barça
Alexander Isak is Deco's top favorite. The Newcastle forward has caught attention for his performance in the Premier League and his ability to lead his team's attack with mobility, quality, and a goal-scoring instinct. Deco sees him as the perfect replacement for Robert Lewandowski and believes his style would fit perfectly with dynamic wingers like Lamine Yamal or Nico Williams.
The most striking thing about this case is that Isak has already shown clear signs of his interest in wearing Barça's jersey. The footballer has turned down offers from clubs like Arsenal or PSG. In addition, his camp assures that he's willing to wait one more season at Newcastle if that means having a real chance to join Barça in 2026.
Medium-term signing
At Barça, they know the signing won't be easy. Newcastle values Isak at more than €100 million and isn't willing to sell him easily. However, at the club, they trust that, with time and planning, they'll be able to design a viable operation.
If Alexander Isak were to sign for Barcelona, his salary would depend on several factors such as the contract duration, his role in the team, and the market conditions at the time of the signing.
Considering his current performance in the Premier League and Barça's salary standards, it's estimated that he could earn between €6 and €8 million net per season. This figure would place him in a mid-high range within the club's salary scale, in line with his status as a top-level forward and his potential impact on the team.
For now, the talks have been informal, but the mutual interest is already on the table. The idea is to keep monitoring Isak's progress during this upcoming season and take advantage of any window of opportunity in the market. Meanwhile, Lewandowski will remain the reference in attack, but with an eye on a guaranteed successor.