Chicago Fire are considering a move to acquire Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer next summer, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Last Sunday, sporting director Gregg Berhalter met with Lewandowski and his agent, Pini Zahavi, at a hotel in Barcelona to discuss the possibility of a transfer.
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There has been ongoing speculation about Lewandowski’s future, particularly as his contract with Barcelona is set to expire at the end of the season.
His performance and fitness have seen a decline this season, sparking rumors that Barcelona may be looking to part ways with him and bring in a long-term replacement during the summer transfer window.
Despite the uncertainty, Lewandowski is eager to remain at the club. He is open to accepting a significant pay cut and taking on a secondary role to extend his stay for another year.
Several clubs, including those from the Saudi Pro League, Major League Soccer, Premier League, and Serie A, are closely monitoring the situation of the former Bayern Munich star.
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For Barcelona, losing a player of Lewandowski’s caliber would be a considerable blow, yet his salary poses a challenge.
Nonetheless, the Catalan club may have a potential solution to retain Lewandowski without straining their financial resources.
La Liga is reportedly planning to implement a new contract renewal system that would allow clubs to extend players’ contracts without financial restrictions.
The striker’s performance from now until the end of the season will be crucial in determining his future with Barcelona.
Ferran Torres seems to have surpassed him in the lineup, having scored 13 goals in all competitions.
In contrast, Lewandowski has found the net eight times in 12 La Liga appearances, but his Champions League performance has been lacking.
Barcelona is also considering Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez as a potential target for the upcoming summer.