Barcelona are still focusing on their successor plans for Robert Lewandowski, with reports once again naming Alexander Isak as one of the leading players transfer Goal.
Now 36, Lewandowski shows no signs of slowing down in front of goal and continues to boast an incredible fitness record. He has scored 16 goals in 18 La Liga games this season and scored a further nine goals in other competitions, taking his tally for the season to 25.
This leaves Lewandowski just a step shy of the number he achieved last season for Barcelona, which was by far his worst goalscoring season since his debut season at Bayern Munich in 2014/15 – again the number he achieved back then.
Isak hasn’t been as productive as Lewandowski – although the start of his season was cut short by a toe injury – but he has been in excellent form for Newcastle of late, scoring a goal in his last seven Premier League games and averaging every 113 minutes played a goal. He also scored in the Magpies’ 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
Spanish publication Mundo Sports Note that Isak, who cost Newcastle a club record £63m when he moved from Real Sociedad in 2022, is a leading candidate to replace Lewandowski, with Barcelona knowing the Pole will inevitably slow down.
Sporting CP’s goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres is also mentioned as a key Barcelona target, although, like Isak, he is likely to cost Barcelona an extraordinary amount of money – something the Catalan giants do not currently have as they continue to navigate a financial crisis .
Barcelona’s desire to sign a left winger capable of pushing inside is also highlighted, citing recent interest in Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who is expected to leave Old Trafford before the end of the January transfer window .
Nico Williams is Barcelona’s dream signing in the position – an attempt to sign the Spaniard from Athletic Club failed last summer – while Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao are also high on the club’s transfer radar.
Newcastle understandably do not want to sell Isak and are hoping to sign the Sweden international on new and better terms. Their chances of retaining him will be boosted by qualifying for next season’s Champions League – Eddie Howe’s side are currently fifth in the Premier League table after picking up five wins in a row.