Barcelona Eye Osimhen as Potential Lewandowski Successor

Barcelona are exploring options to replace veteran striker Robert Lewandowski, with Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen emerging as a leading candidate, according to Spanish reports.

The Catalan club are preparing for a major squad overhaul next summer, with Lewandowski’s future increasingly uncertain due to his age, recurring muscle injuries and one of the highest salaries in the team. The 37-year-old Polish striker has been sidelined for several weeks with a biceps femoris injury in his left thigh, missing three matches — including the ‘Clasico’ defeat to Real Madrid.

In his absence, Ferran Torres has been deployed as a makeshift centre-forward but has struggled to deliver the necessary goal tally. The Spaniard has found the net five times in eleven appearances this season — a modest return for a club historically reliant on prolific scorers such as Luis Suárez, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.

With that in mind, Barcelona’s sporting department is prioritising the signing of a new striker. After earlier links to Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic, Mundo Deportivo now reports that the Blaugrana have reignited their interest in Osimhen.

The 26-year-old forward, who joined Galatasaray from Napoli for €75 million and signed a deal through 2029, has been in scintillating form in Turkey — scoring 37 goals in 41 appearances across all competitions. His performances have once again made him one of Europe’s most sought-after attackers.

However, Barcelona’s pursuit will be complicated by financial constraints and LaLiga’s strict salary regulations under Financial Fair Play. Any move would likely depend on player sales and wage adjustments within the squad.

The club could benefit from Osimhen’s reported desire to take the next step in his career. A move to Camp Nou would represent both a sporting challenge and a high-profile platform to solidify his place among Europe’s elite forwards.

For now, Barcelona continue to monitor the striker’s situation closely, with the search for Lewandowski’s long-term successor taking shape as one of the club’s top priorities ahead of the 2025–26 season.