A highly valued Inter Milan star rated at around €120 million is reportedly edging closer to a sensational transfer to Barcelona.
The Polish striker remains respected and is even willing to reduce his salary, but age, physical load and contract horizon make it impossible for Barcelona to ignore the need for a franchise No. 9 who can define the next five to seven years at the top level.
In that context, the club has scoured the market, weighing profiles from Harry Kane to Julián Álvarez, yet one name has steadily grown from rumour to genuine obsession in the Camp Nou offices.
The player in question is Lautaro Martínez, Inter’s captain and attacking talisman, who has not only been identified internally as the “ideal replacement” for Lewandowski but has also, crucially, shown openness to a move to La Liga and specifically Barcelona, as reported by Fichajes.
At 28, he sits at the perfect blend of peak and experience, with 11 goals and multiple assists already this season and a proven record in Serie A and the Champions League, ticking the boxes of aggression, pressing work-rate, link play, and penalty-box instinct that Hansi Flick craves.
Reports in Spain suggest Lautaro’s camp has actively conveyed his willingness to Barcelona, believing his style suits the club’s positional play and that he can quickly adapt to the demands of Camp Nou.
The main obstacle, as ever, is financial and political.
Inter Milan has no intention of losing their captain cheaply, valuing him in the 80–120 million euro range and protected by a contract until 2029 that hands them huge leverage in talks.
Barcelona, constrained by La Liga’s financial rules, must explore creative formulas – staggered payments, player swaps, or salary structures – to make the deal viable without destabilising the project.
If a breakthrough comes, though, Lautaro Martínez would not just be another big name through the door; he would instantly become the face of a new Barcelona attack built for the post-Lewandowski era.
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