Barcelona Ready to Pay €90 Million for Robert Lewandowski’s Replacement

Barcelona are reportedly prepared to pay up to €90 million to sign Lautaro Martinez as Robert Lewandowski’s replacement next summer. 

Martinez is the latest name to join Deco’s list of potential successors for Lewandowski.

The Blaugrana have also been linked with Bayern Munich star Harry Kane and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez.

Barcelona Eye Lautaro Martinez as Robert Lewandowski’s Replacement

Robert Lewandowski is in the final year of his Barcelona contract. The Polish striker, 37, scored 42 goals for the club in 52 matches last season, but is no longer Hansi Flick’s first-choice striker.

Barcelona have given the honours to Ferran Torres this season, and the Spaniard has delivered, scoring 11 goals in 15 LaLiga matches.

According to El Nacional, Barca want to pair Torres up with another high-quality striker, and Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez is one of the most prominent names on their shortlist.

https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1912552081837130183

Deco believes Martinez’s style would fit Hansi Flick’s system. The Argentine is an excellent finisher, is a natural leader, and has big-game experience, making him a perfect profile for the Blaugrana.

There is a belief that Martinez would be able to keep pace with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, both in terms of pace and work rate.

Barca Prepared to Pay €90 Million to Convince Inter to Sell Martinez

Lautaro Martinez has been at Inter since 2018 and still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract. The Nerazzurri see the 28-year-old as an integral member of the team and are unwilling to sell.

Despite this, Barcelona remains confident that they can bring Inter to the negotiating table with a €90 million bid. They are prepared to pay €70 million up front and the remaining €20 million in add-ons.

While Martinez has prominently appeared on Barca’s radar, he is not the only one the club are tracking.

Harry Kane, who sees his Bayern Munich deal expire in June 2027, could be available for a slightly lower €65 million fee.

While the Englishman has scored more goals than Martinez, he will turn 33 before the next season commences.

Hansi Flick seeks a team with aggression, intensity, and pace, but the former Tottenham Hotspur striker does not fit that profile.

https://twitter.com/statmusefc/status/1998144839146442820

Then there is Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid forward is only 25 years old, can play in multiple positions in attack, puts in a shift, and has plenty of pace to burn.

However, he is the crown jewel of Barca’s LaLiga rivals Atletico. So, the Catalan side may have to pay above the market rate to sign him.

According to reports, Barcelona need to bid in the region of €100 million to have a shot at signing Alvarez.

Barcelona return to action with a clash against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Playing at home, Barca are massive favourites to get maximum points.

They have been buoyed by Lamine Yamal’s positional switch, as it has added a new dimension to their attack. The tweak paid off handsomely in their previous LaLiga outing, as they beat Real Betis 5-3.