Hansi Flick selects the '100 million Euro assassin' for Barcelona

Barcelona is preparing to restructure their forward line, with Hansi Flick pinpointing Serhou Guirassy as the primary target for the upcoming summer, even though the deal promises to be difficult.

Coach Hansi Flick understands that Barca needs a new leader upfront as the era of Robert Lewandowski is nearly over. According to Bild, the German tactician has marked Serhou Guirassy, the 29-year-old striker from Borussia Dortmund, as the main candidate to replace the Polish star.

Lewandowski, now 37, still holds a contract until 2026 with an option to extend for another season. However, he is likely to leave Camp Nou at the end of this season. So far, the former Bayern forward has scored 103 goals in 152 official matches for Barca. Finding his successor is an urgent task for Flick and the club’s management.

The interest in Guirassy recalls memories from 2017 when Barca spent 148 million Euros to bring Ousmane Dembele from Dortmund to Camp Nou. The winger now plays for PSG and recently won the Ballon d’Or, demonstrating the significance of transfers linking these two clubs. Now, another major deal might be on the horizon.

Sources from Bild confirm that Flick, who is well-versed in the Bundesliga, firmly places Guirassy at the top of his recruitment list. However, within Barca, there are divided opinions. President Joan Laporta, who is seeking re-election, prefers signing bigger-name players to boost the club’s image. According to Laporta, Guirassy does not yet have enough brand power to meet those political goals, despite his contract with Dortmund running until 2028.

The Guinean star is currently an indispensable pillar for Dortmund. Coach Niko Kovac has often called him the team’s "living insurance" in the Ruhr region. Last season, Guirassy scored 38 goals and provided 9 assists in 50 matches. This season, he continues his strong performance with 5 goals and 1 assist after just a few rounds.

Notably, last summer Guirassy could have left Dortmund if a release clause of around 70 million Euros was triggered, which applies only to a few top clubs. His brother and agent Karamba is actively promoting Guirassy to many European teams with ambitions to increase his current earnings, about 9 million Euros per year plus bonuses.

If the deal succeeds, Barca will revive their historic connection with Dortmund and shape a new attacking line in the post-Lewandowski era. Backed by Flick, the Catalan club is betting on a striker who has proven his class in the Bundesliga, but the path to making this transfer a reality will undoubtedly be tough.