FC Barcelona has made signing a center forward for the present and future its top priority for 2026. Lewandowski's career is about to come to an end and the mutual decision is clear: its contract, which ends next summer, won't be extended. Given the current situation, it has long since started searching for a number 9 capable of making fans forget the Polish striker, which won't be an easy task.
Julián Álvarez, too expensive
The truth is that Julián Álvarez's name has been strongly linked, but we're talking about an almost impossible deal. He has a very high release clause and Atlético won't let him leave for less. He'd be delighted to wear Barça's jersey, but he knows it'll be very complicated.
The Catalan team's financial situation doesn't help either, as it still hasn't managed to solve its problems. This summer, once again, it faced complications registering its new signings despite not having made a major outlay. Considering that, in a very optimistic scenario, he wouldn't leave for less than €100 million (100 million euros); the deal is considered practically "impossible."
The new Eto'o plays for Villarreal
This way, Barcelona has decided to look into other alternatives. Deco has put on the sports commission's table the player he considers "the new Samuel Eto'o": Etta Eyong, from Villarreal.
Fichajes.net has revealed that Etta Eyong has come onto Barça's radar after his recent performances. He's only 21 and has a bright future ahead, having made a good impression in Spain.
Cameroonian by birth like Eto'o, Etta Eyong is experiencing a meteoric rise in his career. He arrived at Villarreal last season, costing only €1 million (1 million euros) from Cádiz, where he scored 14 goals for its reserve team.
Last season, between Villarreal's first team and reserves, the Cameroonian posted very positive numbers with 20 goals and 6 assists. Meanwhile, this season he's already started scoring with the senior team in the first match.
With a contract until 2027 and a not-too-high release clause, Barça is rubbing its hands. Etta Eyong is highly regarded and the club will try to prevent his contract renewal. He's considered the new Samuel Eto'o and they don't want to lose track of him; he looks very promising and has great potential.