{"id":2994,"date":"2026-05-01T22:23:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:23:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2994"},"modified":"2026-05-01T22:23:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:23:22","slug":"barcelona-identify-chelsea-star-joao-pedro-and-laliga-striker-as-potential-replacements-for-robert-lewandowski-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=2994","title":{"rendered":"Barcelona identify Chelsea star Joao Pedro and LaLiga striker as potential replacements for Robert Lewandowski: Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5161877\" data-slug-id=\"2776194\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Barcelona have reportedly identified Chelsea star Joao Pedro and Atletico Madrid star Alexander Sorloth as potential replacements for Robert Lewandowski this summer. The Polish legend has been heavily linked to an exit at the end of this season. <\/p>\n<p>After four seasons at Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski&#8217;s contract is set to end in June 2026. The Pole is reportedly headed to an exit, with multiple options on the table from Europe, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. With Lewandowski&#8217;s departure on the cards, the Catalans are keen on signing a new striker this summer. Ferran Torres has been Lewandowski&#8217;s replacement so far, but his performances have been inconsistent, with enough space for improvement. <\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Thanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>According to journalist Matte Moretto (h\/t Reshad Rahman), Barcelona have chosen two potential replacements for Robert Lewandowski &#8211; Chelsea star Joao Pedro and Atletico Madrid ace Alexander Sorloth. The Catalans were also linked to Julian Alvarez, but his signing appears to be expensive and unlikely for multiple factors. <\/p>\n<p>Joao Pedro signed for the Blues in the summer of 2025, scoring 19 times in 46 games across competitions in his debut season. His contract runs until 2033, and it is unlikely that Chelsea will sell him, given his decent showing this season. Meanwhile, Alexander Sorloth has a contract with Atletico until June 2028, but isn&#8217;t a regular starter for the club. He&#8217;s found the net 19 times in 49 appearances across competitions, but started in only 25 of them. <\/p>\n<p>However, either signing will depend on the respective players&#8217; willingness to join La Blaugrana, the financial aspects of the deal, and the club&#8217;s intention to negotiate or hear offers. The Catalans will be able to make such decisions once departures are made and the economic situation is viable. <\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Barcelona coach Hansi Flick weighs in on Robert Lewandowski&#8217;s future at the club<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"Lewandowski - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg\"\/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"Lewandowski - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/05\/ff534-17776410824965-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>Lewandowski &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona&#8217;s league fixture against Osasuna, Hansi Flick opened up on Robert Lewandowski&#8217;s future at the club. He said (via Barca Universal):<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;We\u2019ve spoken, but that\u2019s something between the two of us. We\u2019re focusing on the five remaining matches. Once we\u2019re done, we\u2019ll talk and see what happens.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>With only five LaLiga games left for the Catalans, the focus is on securing the league title as soon as possible. They are currently at the top of the table with 85 points from 33 games and eleven points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. The upcoming Clasico on May 11 could be a potential title-deciding fixture. <\/p>\n<p>However, if Barcelona wins against Osasuna and Real Madrid lose their game against Espanyol, the Catalans could be declared official champions before the fixture.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Thank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Pratyasha Sarkar<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Barcelona have reportedly identified Chelsea star Joao Pedro and Atletico Madrid star Alexander Sorloth as&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2995,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2994"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2994\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2995"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}