FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta is reportedly considering offloading Robert Lewandowski this summer and finding a new striker to reinforce the squad. The news comes as Lewandowski’s form has declined since returning from the Qatar World Cup, with local media criticizing him for not showing up in big matches.

Laporta believes that the club needs a new striker, and sources have reported that 18-year-old Brazilian wonderkid Vitor Roque is at the top of their wishlist. However, the club’s financial difficulties may make signing a new striker a challenge, especially if they need to sell Lewandowski to make room for a new arrival.

Lewandowski joined Barca from Bayern Munich in a €45 million ($49 million) transfer in 2022 and initially made an impressive start, scoring a goal per game. However, the striker’s form has taken a dip recently, and Laporta is now considering his options.

According to El Nacional, Laporta is “increasingly clear” that the club needs to find a new centre-forward as Lewandowski has lost his goalscoring sense and is no longer the big star he was at Bayern Munich.

Barca’s financial situation could complicate matters, with the club needing to reduce its wage bill by €200 million ($218 million) ahead of next season, according to reports. Lewandowski’s contract is also an issue, with his salary set to rise each year until it expires in 2026. He is due to earn a net salary of €10 million ($10.8 million) this season, which will increase to €13 million ($14 million) next season and €16 million ($17.25 million) by 2024/2025 before dropping back down to €13 million ($14 million) in 2025/2026.

Laporta’s decision could have a significant impact on Barca’s future planning, with the club expected to defend their La Liga title next season. The president needs to make a tough decision soon, and it remains to be seen what he will decide regarding the future of Lewandowski and the club’s striker position.