Joan Laporta saves hundreds of millions: replacement for Robert Lewandowski at zero cost

For months, the sporting management of Barça has been scouring the soccer market in search of a striker with full guarantees. Several names have come up, and there had been talk of Gyökeres, the Swede who is now at Arsenal. Other goal scorers like Alexander Isak, signed by Liverpool, or the Colombian Luis Diaz were also on Barça's radar.

The common denominator in all these operations is the extremely high financial cost they represent, above €75 million. The latest to make the front pages of the rumor mill has been the red-and-white striker Julián Álvarez. It had been said that the Argentine forward is Joan Laporta's target for the 2026 market and that he could announce his signing during the presidential elections.

However, judging by the latest statements from Barça's president, it doesn't seem that the club is willing to sign the Argentine. Even more so considering that he has an unaffordable €500 million release clause and Atlético, in principle, doesn't have pressing financial needs. Joan Laporta has hinted that he won't sign a top striker as a replacement for Lewandowski.

Joan Laporta Looks for Talent at Home

Joan Laporta is very clear that Barça has always had a big problem making major signings work. Their performance, as a general rule, hasn't been the desired one in relation to the amount of money invested. Great examples are Coutinho, Dembélé, and Antoine Griezmann, all operations where Barça ended up losing a lot of money.

Barça has realized that signing young players with talent and betting on them for the future, or giving a chance to the talent from La Masia, is much better. Hansi Flick has shown a lot of trust in Ferran Torres, who last season performed at a high level. It seems that the Valencian, if things don't go wrong, is on track to repeat another great season.

Laporta and His Desire to Recover the Best Ansu Fati

The blaugrana president knows that the club's financial situation isn't at its best and it's practically impossible to make a signing for a TOP goal scorer. That's why the sporting management is closely monitoring Ansu Fati at Monaco; the homegrown player has started the season well in France. Ansu has found the net in the opening matches and is beginning to regain confidence in his abilities.

Laporta is a staunch defender of homegrown talent and fervently hopes that Ansu Fati can once again offer his best version. The homegrown forward was always the great promise, but his continuous injuries hampered his progress. The results of this season will largely determine the decisions to be made as well as Ansu Fati's final performance at Monaco.