FC Barcelona are pretty much guaranteed to enter the market for a new centre-forward in the summer of 2026. After all, Robert Lewandowski's contract expires at the end of the season, and there appear to be no plans for a renewal at the moment. Julian Alvarez is seen as the dream target by the Catalans, but a transfer appears impossible, given the club's finances as well as Atletico Madrid's stance on their star forward's future.
Manchester City have joined Arsenal in showing an interest in Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, the Daily Mail reports. Even though both Premier League clubs have creative midfielders, they will continue to monitor the Spain youth international's progress and any developments in his situation. The 20-year-old is also on Real Madrid's radar In addition to impressing for Elche, where he has scored two goals in 10 appearances for the newly promoted LaLiga side.
Although the winter transfer window is still some way away, Barcelona remain attentive to all activity around them. The sporting department continues to monitor the football landscape closely in order to anticipate future needs and avoid losing ground to other clubs. Meetings between agents and club executives are part of daily operations, allowing both sides to exchange information, understand upcoming market movements, and lay a foundation that may later prove decisive.
Julien Lauren believes the Lamine Yamal situation could be "easily figured out" if both Barcelona and the Spanish FA "speak to each other" to sort it out. (1:49) Nov 17, 2025, 03:39 AM ET Barcelona are looking for reinforcements at left back, right back and on the wing, while AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic is waiting to see how the club fare this season before signing a new contract.
Barcelona are constantly keeping track of the transfer market and are expected to sign multiple players in the summer of 2026. While signing a new defender is certainly on the agenda, Barcelona are also keeping tabs on many attackers, as they look to find more depth on the flanks. One of the players Barcelona are monitoring is Sail El Mala, who has emerged as one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga this season, reports Diario SPORT.
A recent report from SPORT has shed new light on Barcelona's long-term transfer planning, particularly regarding their search for a new centre-forward for the summer of 2026. The club has been evaluating every possible option for months, fully aware that replacing Robert Lewandowski is one of the most strategic decisions they must make. The veteran striker's contract expires at the end of the season,
However, the deal is complicated because Barça would first need to secure the departure of a big-name player. In this regard, ESPN reported on Tuesday that Chelsea have made an approach to gauge the availability of Fermín López, while Barça are also open to listening to offers for Marc Casadó, Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen in an attempt to comply with LaLiga's financial fair play rules.