Victor Osimhen Emerges as Barcelona Transfer Target as Robert Lewandowski Nears Exit After Four-Year Spell

Robert Lewandowski’s time at FC Barcelona appears to be drawing to a close, with the 37-year-old Polish striker reportedly set to announce his departure as his contract expires at the end of the current campaign. The impending exit is accelerating speculation linking Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen with a switch to the Catalan club.

According to reports, Lewandowski is described as being “very close” to confirming his exit, despite Barcelona having offered the forward a one-year contract extension. That offer, however, reportedly came with a significant wage reduction — terms the veteran appears unwilling to accept. His final appearance at the Camp Nou is expected to come this Sunday in the club’s last home fixture of the season against Real Betis, which is set to serve as a farewell to the Blaugrana faithful.

Lewandowski departs having made a substantial impact since joining Barcelona in 2022 as a centrepiece of president Joan Laporta’s second mandate. In 191 appearances for the club, he scored 119 goals and contributed to three La Liga title wins across four seasons. Potential destinations for the striker include a reported €30 million-per-season offer from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, as well as a possible move to Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire.

With the striker’s exit now appearing imminent, Barcelona’s recruitment team has turned its attention to identifying a long-term successor. According to reports, Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez and Chelsea forward João Pedro are among the primary targets. However, the financial barriers associated with both players have complicated matters. Sources suggest João Pedro would cost a minimum of €100 million — a figure that may exceed Barcelona’s current spending capacity given their well-documented economic constraints — while Álvarez is expected to command an even higher fee.

Those financial limitations have elevated Osimhen’s profile as a more affordable alternative. The Nigeria international, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, has been in discussions over his future for some time. A Turkish football pundit has separately claimed, according to reports published on the same date, that Osimhen’s asking price could deter potential suitors across Europe — a claim that adds nuance to the extent of Barcelona’s reported interest.

Osimhen, 26, remains one of African football’s most prominent forwards. He won the Serie A title with Napoli in the 2022/23 season, finishing as the division’s top scorer with 26 goals — a campaign that firmly established him among Europe’s elite strikers. Whether Barcelona can meet Napoli’s valuation, given the club’s ongoing efforts to comply with La Liga’s financial fair play regulations, remains a central question heading into the summer transfer window.

The coming weeks are expected to clarify whether Osimhen’s next destination is the Camp Nou or elsewhere, as Barcelona moves to reshape its attack for the post-Lewandowski era.