Liverpool is in a bit of a mess with their forwards right now. After losing Hugo Ekitike to a serious Achilles injury, the rumors have started flying about who could come in to help Arne Slot. One name that has popped up is Robert Lewandowski. It sounds like a FIFA career mode move, but it actually comes from someone who knows the club well. Former Reds player Joe Cole thinks the Barcelona man is exactly what they need right now.
The injury to Ekitike happened during or around that Champions League game against PSG on Tuesday. It sounds like a long-term thing, which is a massive blow because the club spent a lot of money on him and Alexander Isak in the summer. We are talking over £200m. And now they are short on bodies. Slot has to find a way to keep the goals coming if they want to stay in the hunt for a Champions League spot. Cole thinks a short-term deal for a veteran is the way to go instead of gambling on a teenager.
The Ekitike injury and the attacking crisis
Liverpools season has been a bit below-par so far. They really needed Ekitike to be the main man, but this Achilles setback has changed everything. According to a report from Sports Mole, the void left by the forward is huge. It leaves Slot with very few options up top besides Isak. You can’t just play one guy every single game in the Premier League. It’s too much. Especially with the European schedule being so busy.
The club is in a tough spot because they already spent so much. They can’t really go out and drop another £80m on a striker in the next window. That’s why the free agent market or a short-term veteran deal makes so much sense. Joe Cole was talking to Paddy Power and he basically said that Robert Lewandowski would be a great shout. He thinks the Polish striker might relish the challenge of proving he can still do it in England. He’s 37 now, but he’s still scoring goals in Spain. Age is just a number if you know where the net is, right?
But let’s be real for a second. There haven’t been any official talks yet. This is all just pundit talk and speculation for now. No one at Anfield has picked up the phone to Barcelona as far as we know. But the logic is there. Lewandowski’s contract is up at the end of this season in June 2026. That makes him very accessible for a team that needs a quick fix. Barcelona might even be happy to get his wages off the books since they always have money issues.
Why Robert Lewandowski would fit at Anfield
Lewandowski has 12 goals in La Liga this season. That is a pretty good return for a guy his age. He’s been helping Barca stay in the title race, so they might not want to let him go easily. But if Liverpool come knocking with a chance for him to finally play in the Premier League, he might push for it. There’s that famous story from 2012 where he almost joined Blackburn Rovers. A volcano in Iceland stopped his flight and the deal fell through. It’s one of those “what if” stories in football history. Maybe he feels like he has unfinished business here.
As Goal.com mentioned in their coverage of the Joe Cole interview, Lewandowski could easily handle 30 games a season. He wouldn’t have to be the only starter. He could share the load with Isak. That would take the pressure off the younger players and give Slot a proven winner in the dressing room. And because he would be a free agent or a very cheap buy, it helps with the Financial Fair Play rules. Liverpool already spent a lot, so they have to be careful.
There are other names being mentioned too. Raul Jimenez from Fulham is another one that people are talking about as a free agent option. But he’s not Lewandowski. Not even close. If you have the chance to get one of the best strikers of the last decade, you probably take it. Even if he is only there for 12 months. It’s a low risk move that could have a massive payoff. If he gets them back into the top four, he’s worth every penny of his wages.
What Slot needs to decide
Arne Slot is facing a really challenging recruitment window. He has to balance the long-term plan with the immediate need for goals. The club likes to sign young players with high resale value. That’s why they bought Ekitike and Isak. But sometimes you just need a “now” player. Someone who doesn’t need three months to adapt to the system. Lewandowski has played at the highest level for years. He’s played for Klopp and Ancelotti. He knows how to adapt.
And there are other rumors out there too. Liverpool are apparently looking at Bazoumana Toure from Hoffenheim. But he’s a young kid. He’s not the guy you bring in to replace a starter like Ekitike during a crisis. You need experience. You need someone who isn’t going to be scared of a cold night at an away stadium. That’s why Cole’s suggestion is gaining some traction with the fans online. It just makes sense on paper. Even if it feels a bit unlikely right now.
“A player like Robert Lewandowski… might believe he can outperform Isak… easily participate in 30 games.” – Joe Cole via Paddy Power
But will Barcelona let him go? They are in their own title race. They need him too. Unless they have someone else lined up, it’s hard to see them letting their top scorer leave mid-season or even at the end of the year if they don’t have a replacement. But his contract situation gives him the power. If he doesn’t sign a new one, they might prefer to let him go now and save some money. It’s a complicated situation for everyone involved.
What happens next for Liverpool
Right now, the club is probably doing their due diligence. They’ll be looking at all the strikers with expiring contracts. Reports from OneFootball suggest they are already looking at Bundesliga options for the summer. But the Ekitike injury means they might have to move faster. They can’t wait until August to find a striker. They need one in January or as soon as the window opens.
The fans will be watching closely. There’s a lot of pressure on Slot right now. He’s inherited a good squad but the injuries have been brutal. If he can pull off a signing like Lewandowski, it would be a huge statement. It would show that Liverpool are still serious about competing at the very top. Even if they are just looking for a stopgap. It’s better than doing nothing and watching the season slip away. We’ll have to see if the club actually listens to Joe Cole or if they go in a different direction. For now, it’s just a very interesting idea that has everyone talking.
The next few weeks will be telling. If Ekitike’s recovery timeline stays as bad as it sounds, the pressure to sign a veteran will only grow. We’ll be keeping an eye on the Tier 1 sources to see if any real negotiations start. But for now, Robert Lewandowski to Anfield remains a dream for some and a wild rumor for others. It’s the kind of story that makes the transfer window so chaotic. And let’s be honest, we all love a bit of chaos.
