Barcelona weigh striker plans as Deco outlines Lewandowski void
With Lewandowski leaving, 36-year-old Wojciech Szczęsny is tipped to grow as a dressing-room leader, valued for professionalism and unity despite backing up Joan Garcia.
Barcelona are linked with a summer move for Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, as Bayern weigh John Stones and Chelsea eye Dušan Vlahović.
Gavi says Dembélé is ‘like a brother’, hopes he wins the Champions League with PSG and praises his form, reflecting their close Barcelona bond despite his 2023 exit.
Fermín López fractured his fifth metatarsal, underwent surgery and is ruled out of the 2026 World Cup. He is expected to be out for two to three months and could be ready for Barça preseason.
Thiago Alcantara’s continuity on Flick’s staff is undecided after serving as a technical assistant. Analyst Stephan Nopp departs, while Sorg, Tapalovic, Westermann and the fitness team stay.
Predictions back Barcelona to beat Valencia 3-1 on the final day, with the title already retained. Villarreal vs Atlético is set to decide third place. www.livescore.com
Barça are now willing to pay €30m to sign Marcus Rashford permanently after a 14G/14A season under Hansi Flick, moving away from a new loan push. The player is willing to stay on lower wages.
Atlético Madrid step up for free agent Bernardo Silva as a Griezmann replacement. Barcelona remain keen but face competition for the Man City playmaker.
Gavi says if Tchouaméni fought Valverde, he should not have played the next game and it was a mistake to use him in El Clásico, while admitting he does not know the full details.
Barça have ruled out a move for Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni due to price, Flick’s doubts and a focus on replacing Lewandowski, shifting priorities away from a centre-back signing.
Raphinha calls Lamine Yamal a ‘younger brother’, says leaders guide and ‘tell him off’ when needed. The pair’s bond shows on the pitch, and he would relish a Brazil v Spain World Cup final.
Luis de la Fuente praises Gavi’s form after injury, saying Spain ‘miss him’ and confirming a 26-man squad with three goalkeepers, hinting the Barcelona midfielder is set for World Cup inclusion.
High-earning, injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen is not in Barça’s plans but wants to stay, complicating an exit and restricting FFP room for a new striker, defender and winger.
Club Brugge have rejected Barcelona’s first bid for 18-year-old winger Jesse Bisiwu, deeming it insufficient. Deco and scouting chief Joao Amaral have tracked him and Barça may return with an improved offer.
Ansu Fati scores every 99 minutes for Monaco in Ligue 1, 11 goals, second only to Harry Kane for goals-per-minute in Europe’s top five leagues this season.
Hansi Flick promotes Barça Atlètic right-back Joan Anaya to first-team training before Valencia. Lamine Yamal and Fermín López remain out injured.
Barça youth forward Hamza Abdelkarim, 18, earns a World Cup call-up with Egypt while on loan from Al-Ahly. He could become Egypt’s youngest World Cup player if he features.
Preview asks whether Barcelona can defeat OL Lyonnais again in a UWCL final rematch after last season’s 2-0 win.
Deco says Lewandowski’s departure is confirmed, calls replacing him ‘almost impossible’, and notes Ferran has played as a 9. Barça will seek a striker but name no targets, citing FFP caution: ‘not ruling anyone out’.
Leaked ‘Sant Jordi edition’ 2026-27 Barça fourth kit features Saint George’s red cross on an opal base with blue trim.
