Who Is Barcelona Signing Erling Halaand or Viktor Gyokeres?

Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has addressed speculation about whether the club might pursue Erling Haaland or Viktor Gyokeres in future transfer windows.

What’s Happening?

Currently, Barcelona has no immediate need for a new No.9. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski is holding down the position effectively. Despite being 36 years old, Lewandowski is under contract until the summer of 2026, with the possibility of a 12-month extension if specific conditions are met.

The Big Picture

While Lewandowski remains a reliable figure, Barcelona knows they will eventually need to secure another proven forward to lead their attack. This has led to speculation about potential future moves for top talents, including Manchester City’s Haaland and Sporting CP’s Gyokeres. However, Deco has chosen not to fuel these rumors and prefers to focus on the present.

What Deco Said

In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Deco was asked about the possibility of Haaland joining Barcelona in the future. He responded:
“First, we have to know if Haaland is what we want in the future. We don’t know now. Right now, we don’t want any No.9. We have Robert. We’re not planning anything with any No.9. When the time comes to make a decision—and I’m the one responsible for making it—we’ll consider the options. But I don’t think it’s the time to talk about any player.”

Facts

Haaland has been sensational for Manchester City, collecting Premier League titles, a Champions League crown, and two Golden Boots. Meanwhile, Gyokeres has also been making a name for himself at Sporting, impressing with his goal-scoring record. When Deco was asked about Gyokeres as a potential target, he said:
“He’s a good player; he’s been scoring goals for a long time in Portugal. We know him, like many others, but he is not our priority at the moment. Nor are we looking for a No.9 to replace Robert. We want Robert to remain happy, keep scoring goals, and stay with us for at least another season. We’ve achieved success, and he is happy to be here. We’re not going to talk about any player right now.”

Lewandowski’s Impact

Since joining Barcelona from Bayern Munich in 2022, Lewandowski has been a crucial part of the team. He has scored 78 goals in 112 appearances for the Blaugrana, including an impressive 19 goals in 17 outings this season. His form underscores that Barcelona has no pressing need to seek a replacement for their star striker.