Barcelona could sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku if they fail in their bid to sign Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski this summer, reports Mundo Deportivo. The Catalan club are also said to have lined up outgoing Liverpool attacker Sadio Mane as another alternative to the Polish marksman.
The Belgian international was also wanted by the club by then Barca manager Ronald Koeman in the summer of 2020, but Barcelona’s economic conditions forced the Catalans to instead opt for Martin Braithwaite.
As per the report, the Poland international is Barcelona’s utmost priority this transfer window and both the parties are said to be optimistic about striking an agreement with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.
However, the former Borussia Dortmund man is contracted until 2023 at the Allianz Arena, and the Munich club would rather keep him this season and then let go off for free next summer than lose him for cheap this transfer window.
Last week, the player had told the media that his career with Bayern ‘was over’.
“Let’s see what we can do in the next two weeks, I don’t want to continue at the club, and I would like to focus on Poland. After the Nations League, we will have time to talk about the situation, but I don’t see any possibility to stay at Bayern,”
he said, as per Goal.
Despite the star striker making his intentions clear, Bayern’s sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic suggested the striker would not be allowed to leave.
“Our position has not changed. The fact is he has a contract to 30 June, 2023,”
the Bosnian was quoted as saying by Sky Germany.
And hence it is understood that should the deal fail; gaffer Xavi Hernandez has identified Lukaku as a worthy alternative to the Polish striker. Meanwhile, it is being reported that Lukaku wants to leave Stamford bridge after just a solitary season with his preferred destination said to be Inter Milan.
The Belgian endured a troubled 2021/22 campaign with the Blues following his return to Stamford Bridge club for a record fee of 113 million euros last August.
Apart from Barca and Inter, the player has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, with the Germans also viewing the 29-year-old as an alternative to Lewandowski, should the Pole leave Munich this window.
