The future of Barcelona's forward line is one of the topics that most concerns the sporting management. Robert Lewandowski will turn 37 in August and that affects the club's short- and medium-term plans. Although he still has a valid contract, the club assumes it must start thinking about his replacement.
In Barça's offices, they're not only looking for a replacement, but also a useful partner for rotation. The Polish footballer played many minutes last season and his physical condition started to show it in the spring. Flick wants to manage his playing time and have different resources for tough matches or specific contexts.
The technical department is considering bringing in a mobile, associative striker with a good eye for goal, but without a high cost. The ideal formula is the one used with Marcus Rashford: a loan with an affordable purchase option. That operation worked and the club believes it can repeat that type of signing this very summer.
The coaching staff won't settle: they want more offensive alternatives
In this scenario, a move that seemed unfeasible just a few weeks ago has been activated. It's about a striker who has lost importance in his current team and who would be willing to seek a change of scenery. At Barça, they believe the context is favorable and they're seriously studying the viability of the move.
The goal isn't to bring in a global star who demands a starting spot from day one. What Flick and Deco are asking for is a profile that complements the current one, raising internal competitiveness. Someone with experience, but also hungry to regain prominence at the elite level.
The player in question is very much to Deco's liking because of his associative style and his ability to find spaces. In addition, he has the backing of the coaching staff, who see him as an interesting game-changer for the final stages of matches. It's not just about signing out of necessity, but about improving the overall level of the attack.
From England, there's willingness to let him leave this summer
His current club has already told him he won't be an undisputed starter this season, something that has upset the player. Although he keeps a good relationship with his coach, he knows he has lost hierarchy in the squad. That's why he's listening to proposals that would give him back the prominence he had in previous years.
At Barça, they see him as a strategic opportunity, a signing with sporting and economic logic. The idea would be to close a loan with manageable clauses, without compromising financial balance. If his performance is positive, the club would consider keeping him permanently at the end of the season.
His style would fit well with wingers like Raphinha, Lamine, or Rashford himself, with whom he can combine quickly. He finds it easy to drop back to receive, create spaces, and assist, in addition to contributing a minimum quota of goals. He doesn't need to adapt to the elite: he has spent years competing at the highest level.
A different profile to complete the attack
The operation is still in the study phase, but the first contacts have been positive for all parties involved. The player is open to joining Barcelona, as long as he's guaranteed a defined role. The club also knows that if it doesn't move quickly, it could lose the opportunity to another European giant.
Although several names have been speculated on social media, the one that's closest is a Brazilian with a past at City. It's none other than Arsenal's striker, whose current situation has set off all the alarms at Can Barça. We're referring, of course, to Gabriel Jesús.
His versatility, experience, and desire to feel important again put him in pole position for Barça. Deco and Flick are convinced he can be a high-value addition to the blaugrana forward line. The final decision could be made within days if Arsenal accepts the terms of the loan.