Barcelona’s first January signing announced as Lewandowski placed in danger

2 Dec 2023 10:52 GMT
3 min read

Barcelona will launch their January transfer window with the arrival of Vitor Roque, but the future of Robert Lewandowski at the club is in doubt.

Mundo Deportivo has reported that Vitor Roque will join the club’s ranks on 28 December, six months before his forecast arrival from Athletico Paranaense in the summer.

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A deal had already been struck to sign the 18-year-old later this year, but this has been brought forward as the Catalan side looks to bring more spark to a team that has been struggling to find its feet offensively of late.

The striker has already agreed to a contract with the club that will run until 2031, which sports a buyout clause of €500 million.

Barcelona have decided to rush the deal through prior to the New Year because of Financial Fair Play reasons and also due to the fact that they expect to struggle to sell players during the January transfer window.

They have been given some freedom on this front by Gavi’s injury. LaLiga’s rules allow them to use 80% of the midfielder’s salary to register Vitor Roque for the next six months. Barca, however, will have to generate more money in the summer if they are to register him for the 2024/25 campaign, but this is a problem they would face in any case.

© ProShots - Vitor Roque will hook up with Barcelona in December

Lewandowski’s future in doubt

Robert Lewandowski has new competition for a starting spot at Barcelona, with the long-term future of the Poland star already in question.

According to Sport, Lewandowski’s huge contract is weighing against him. He is presently on a deal worth €26m gross for this season – a figure that will jump to €32m next season before dropping back to his current figure for the final year of his contract.

© ProShots - Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona, 2023/24

Barcelona do have a clause in Lewandowski’s deal that offers them the chance to terminate his contract at the end of next season, but that would involve him playing in less than 55% of matches next term.

Nevertheless, with AS reporting a “disconnection” between Lewandowski and his Barcelona teammates, the arrival of Vitor Roque at Camp Nou could be the beginning of the end for him.