Man City and Atletico Madrid stars joins Victor Osimhen on Barcelona wishlist

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has emerged as a possible transfer target for Barcelona as the Catalan giants begin planning for life after Robert Lewandowski, Afrik-Foot reports.

The free-scoring Super Eagles forward is among several forwards being monitored as Barca prepare for a long-term rebuild in attack.

Barcelona’s recruitment team have started exploring options ahead of the summer transfer window, with Victor Osimhen regarded as one of the names under consideration.

The Nigeria international is not currently at the top of the club’s shortlist, but he is viewed as a realistic alternative should their primary targets prove difficult to secure, according to The Athletic.

Barcelona want one of Osimhen, Marmoush, Alvarez

Lewandowski is widely expected to leave Barcelona when his contract expires at the end of the season. The Polish striker has been one of the club’s most reliable performers since joining from Bayern Munich in 2022, scoring 115 goals in 179 appearances. Yet the veteran forward turns 38 in August, and Barcelona know they must begin planning for the future.

The striker has already played a reduced role this season, with 11 of his 22 La Liga appearances coming from the bench. Barcelona initially hoped Ferran Torres could gradually take on more responsibility in the central attacking role, but the Spain international has struggled to consistently deliver the level of impact expected from a long-term successor.

As a result, sporting director Deco and the recruitment team have widened their search for a new striker.

One of their most admired options Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who has developed into one of Europe’s most versatile forwards since leaving Manchester City. However, Atletico would demand a huge transfer fee, making negotiations extremely complicated.

Another name previously discussed internally is Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich. Yet the England captain is seen as an unlikely solution. Kane had a €65 million release clause earlier in the year, but that option has now expired. At 32, he would also go against Barcelona’s strategy of investing in younger players with long-term resale value.

This situation has led Barcelona to keep alternative options on their radar. Victor Osimhen and Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush are among the players the Spanish champions have highly placed in their wishlist.

Both players are 27 and have proven scoring records at club level, making them realistic fall-back solutions if Barcelona cannot land their priority signings.

Victor Osimhen: A possible signing for Barcelona?

Even so, a move for Osimhen would not be straightforward for Barcelona. The Nigerian striker has long commanded a significant transfer fee, dating back to his time at Napoli, and his current salary expectations could also present challenges for Barcelona, who continue to manage strict financial restrictions.

Despite those obstacles, Osimhen’s goalscoring form ensures he remains an attractive option. The striker has enjoyed another prolific campaign with Galatasaray, continuing the impressive scoring record that first brought him to global attention in European football.

His performances have not gone unnoticed across the continent.

Alongside Barcelona, clubs such as Bayern Munich, Juventus and Chelsea are also believed to be monitoring the Nigerian forward closely.

The former Lille lad insists, however, that he is happy in Istanbul and it would take a truly tempting offer to convince him to part ways with Galatasaray.