Barcelona will be in the market for a number nine next summer if Robert Lewandowski does indeed depart as many expect. There are doubts about what kind of forward they may be able to afford though.
Recently they have been linked with the likes of Julian Alvarez and Serhou Guirassy, but both seem likely to be very expensive. Given the Blaugrana’s salary limit struggles, there is little certainty over what they will be able to spend.
Barcelona interest in Karl Etta Eyong
One forward they were interested in this summer was Karl Etta Eyong, who ended up moving to Levante from Villarreal. The deal was done for just €3m, but the Yellow Submarine reportedly have a buyback clause of around €7m, and a 50% sell-on clause. Half of the fee that they received from Los Granotas went to Cadiz, from whom they signed the Cameroonian forward.
Etta Eyong would prioritise Barcelona move
Barcelona had considered moving for the 21-year-old, but found that they had no salary limit room in order to register him. According to Sport, Etta Eyong had communicated in the summer that were they to move for him, he would prioritise a move to the Catalan club.
Pedri González: “We haven’t played a game like today’s. We need to work so it doesn’t happen again.”
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 5, 2025
That remains the case according to the Catalan daily, but already the cost has risen by 10 times what Levante paid. They are clear that they will not let him go for less than his new €30m release clause, and there are teams in England willing to reach that figure.
Would Barcelona pay €30m for Etta Eyong?
The question would be whether Barcelona would be prepared to make Etta Eyong one of their two main options up front based on one season at La Liga level. Thus far, he could hardly have had a better start, scoring five goals and giving three assists for Levante and Villarreal in just eight games. Nonetheless, it would be a lot of faith to place in a young forward if he was the only classic number nine.
