Manchester City is poised to swoop in and steal a breakout talent from under FC Barcelona’s nose, threatening their plans.
The Premier League champions, who have plundered Spain for gems like Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, are reportedly ready to pounce on a young forward whose explosive form has lit up the division.
With Barcelona leading La Liga with 25 points under Hansi Flick, this development threatens to derail their long-term succession strategy for an aging icon.
According to Fichajes, City are set to hijack Barcelona’s interest in Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong, the 22-year-old Cameroonian striker who joined from Villarreal for €3.8 million in summer 2025.
Eyong has been a revelation, scoring five goals and providing two assists in seven appearances, his pace, power, and finishing earning comparisons to a young Romelu Lukaku.
Barcelona had scouted him at Villarreal but were thwarted by financial constraints; now, City’s financial muscle could snatch him away, valuing him at €20 million per Transfermarkt.
Eyong’s dream of playing for Barcelona, expressed in interviews, aligns with Flick’s high-pressing system, making him an ideal Lewandowski heir.
However, Guardiola’s track record of developing young attackers like Phil Foden positions City as a tempting destination, with their Champions League pedigree and Premier League exposure.
Levante’s deal with Villarreal includes a €15 million sell-on clause, ensuring profits, but City’s substantial offer could trigger it.
For Barcelona, losing Eyong would sting, especially with Lewandowski’s contract expiring in 2026 and injuries sidelining him.
Alternatives like Fisnik Asllani loom, but City’s intervention disrupts Deco’s plans.
As Girona and El Clasico approach, Barcelona’s focus remains on the pitch, but this hijack saga underscores the transfer market’s ruthlessness.
Eyong’s rise from €3.8m bargain to €20m hot property highlights Levante’s savvy, but for Barcelona, it’s a wake-up call to act decisively or risk losing a future star to Manchester’s machine.
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