Barcelona are reportedly looking at Villarreal and Spain striker Gerard Moreno as an alternative if they fail to sign Robert Lewandowski in the summer.
According to SPORT, Barcelona have set their sights on a possible move for Villarreal centre-forward Gerard Moreno as a Plan B if they miss out on signing primary transfer target Robert Lewandowski.
Moreno is currently in his second stint with Villarreal after returning to the club from Espanyol in 2018. Over the past four years, the 30-year-old has developed into one of the most reliable strikers in La Liga and has helped the Yellow Submarines’ push for European football year after year.
Moreno was one of Villarreal’s standout performers as they won the UEFA Europa League in 2020/21. While he struggled with injury issues in 2021/22, the striker still managed to post decent numbers of 13 goals and six assists from 27 appearances in all competitions. With Unai Emery’s side set to play in the Conference League next term, Moreno could be on the move in the summer for a Champions League club.
Barcelona have now presented themselves as a potential destination for Moreno ahead of the summer window. The Catalans are on the lookout for a new top-quality No. 9 to lead their project under Xavi Hernandez. Bayern Munich superstar Robert Lewandowski is their priority target, with the 33-year-old believed to be keen on joining Barcelona and even agreeing a €9 million per year contract.
Barcelona are confident of getting the deal over the line, but Bayern Munich are continuing to play hardball by refusing to sell their ace goalscorer. So, the Blaugrana are now looking to keep a backup plan in place if they fail to land Lewandowski in the summer, which is where Moreno enters the picture.
A reliable goalscorer with a proven track record in La Liga, Moreno can be a good fit for Barcelona. The 30-year-old has a contract with Villarreal that runs until the summer of 2027 and contains a release clause worth €100 million. However, the report claims that the Yellow Submarine could be open to a sale for a sum of €40 million.
However, Barcelona are not the only club interested in signing Moreno. The Spanish international is also on the radars of Atletico Madrid, who are in the market for a replacement for Luis Suarez. In all likelihood, Moreno could be set for an exit from El Madrigal in the summer. But a move to Barcelona would depend on how their pursuit of Lewandowski goes.