Manchester United and Barcelona could find themselves going toe-to-toe over a new striker next year, though they are not the only clubs in the mix for their target
Karl Etta Eyong at Levante
Manchester United know how much it will cost them to sign Karl Etta Eyong(Image: Cristian Trujillo/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Manchester United have a clear disadvantage in the race for Karl Etta Eyong, it has been claimed. Barcelona will reportedly be able to land the Levante star for considerably less than the Red Devils, with his current club putting in place different release clauses for different buyers.
Barcelona are said to see Etta Eyong as a long-term successor to Robert Lewandowski, whose own future in Catalunya is far from secure. Interestingly, United themselves have been linked with Lewandowski only for owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to dash those hopes.
Lewandowski, 37, is out of contract next summer and has been tipped to leave as Barca aim to trim their wage bill. United appear to be moving away from the approach of signing older players on big wages, though, following expensive gambles in years gone by.
If he does move on, Barcelona will have a lot of goals to replace, with the former Bayern Munich star scoring 105 times in 156 appearances. Hansi Flick's side have been sharing the goals around this term, with United loanee Marcus Rashford helping boost the front-line, and Etta Eyong could add further goals next term.
The 22-year-old only joined Levante over the summer, having scored his first La Liga goal for former club Villarreal last season. He has made a flying start, though, scoring five times in seven league outings for his new club.
According to Mundo Deportivo (via Football Espana), it will cost Barcelona £26.4million to sign Etta Eyong. For Premier League clubs, though, the magic number sits at £35.2m.
Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid have also been linked with the 22-year-old, it has been claimed. However, Barca's interest comes with the club potentially looking at cheaper alternatives to Flick target and Borussia Dortmund hotshot Serhou Guirassy.
Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona
Etta Eyong could end up replacing Robert Lewandowski at Barcelona
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Guirassy, 29, is expected to be available for just north of £57m. A relatively late bloomer, the Guinea international scored 28 Bundesliga goals in his final season with former club Stuttgart and 21 last term for current employers Dortmund - along with a tournament-leading 13 in the Champions League.
United, meanwhile, may find themselves in the market for attacking reinforcements in 2026 despite a busy summer. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko arrived at a combined cost of around £200m, but if United return to European competition they may feel the need for further additions.
The funds for any new forwards may well come from selling Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund. Both men are spending the season out on loan, at Barcelona and Napoli respectively, and permanent exits could follow next summer.
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