Barca ‘already have a plan’ for £4.3m striker with release

Barcelona are reportedly considering signing Villarreal forward Karl Etta Eyong before the end of the summer transfer window, with the Cameroonian available for a bargain fee.

Etta Eyong, 21, has only featured on five occasions by Villarreal’s first team, scoring twice, but he has found the back of the net on 19 occasions in 30 appearances for Villarreal B.

The striker played the full 90 minutes of Villarreal’s 2025-26 La Liga opener against Real Oviedo on August 15, and he found the back of the net in his side’s 2-0 success.

The Yellow Submarine are not in a strong position when it comes to Etta Eyong’s future, though, as the release clause in his contract, which runs until June 2027, is believed to be just €5m (£4.3m).

According to Fichajes, Barcelona have been alerted to the market opportunity and are now considering activating the buy-out fee in the closing stages of the summer window.

Barcelona ‘considering late move’ for Etta Eyong

The report claims that Barcelona have already put a plan in place in terms of signing the striker, with the La Liga champions looking to send him straight on loan to Real Betis.

The Seville club’s head coach Manuel Pellegrini is said to have already approved the signing, and Barcelona could then look to use him in their first team during the 2026-27 campaign after a season out on loan.

Etta Eyong’s introduction to Spanish football came at Cadiz in 2022, and he also had an impressive scoring record for their second team, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions.

The striker is yet to make his international debut for Cameroon, but he is now believed to be firmly on the national team’s radar, so a first call-up could arrive in the not too distant future.

Barcelona are looking for a long-term Lewandowski replacement

Robert Lewandowski is still going strong for Barcelona, but the 36-year-old is in the final year of his contract at Camp Nou, and it remains to be seen whether he continues at the club beyond the end of this season.

Etta Eyong is not viewed as a long-term replacement for Lewandowski, rather a player capable of contributing in the years to come, potentially being the back-up to a starting striker.

Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez is said to be firmly on the club’s radar, with the Argentina international believed to be a leading target for the La Liga champions ahead of next summer’s transfer window.

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