Robert Lewandowski to Liverpool? Joe Cole pushes the idea — and Michael Owen explains why it would be a mistake

Liverpool’s forward line has been thrown into turmoil. Hugo Ekitike has ruptured his Achilles tendon and will be sidelined for around nine months, having scored 17 goals in his debut season on Merseyside. He is expected to be out until early 2027.

At the same time, record signing Alexander Isak has only just returned from a broken leg. The £125 million Swede has spent the entire season playing catch‑up in terms of match sharpness and has managed only three goals in 20 appearances.

On top of that, the Reds have agreed to terminate the final year of Mohamed Salah’s contract, meaning the 257‑goal legend will move on this summer, and a replacement for one of the greatest players in the club’s modern history will be required.

In this context, Arne Slot and the recruitment team must decide whether to move for another striker in the upcoming transfer window — and if so, what profile to target. This is where the debate between Joe Cole and Michael Owen over Robert Lewandowski emerges.
Could 37-year-old Lewandowski be the ideal short‑term solution?

Joe Cole believes the club should seriously consider a sensational move for Lewandowski as a short‑term fix while Ekitike recovers.

Cole argues that if Slot stays on as manager, Liverpool cannot go into next season with only Isak as a central option and a long‑term injury to Ekitike hanging over them: “You have to go and get another striker. You will need someone who can come in and help with the load [while Ekitike is out], especially if they qualify for the Champions League. It is a difficult recruitment job for them.

“You might be looking at a veteran striker. You could also look at the other end of the spectrum because you cannot go and get someone who is coming into the peak of their career to compete with Isak and eventually Ekitike.”

For Cole, Lewandowski fits that ‘veteran’ profile perfectly. Despite his age, the Polish striker has remained prolific in Spain, scoring 12 goals to lead Barcelona’s push towards the La Liga title this season. His contract at the Spotify Camp Nou expires at the end of the season, which would make him available on a free transfer.

Cole spells out why he thinks the move makes sense: “Someone like Robert Lewandowski at 37 years old for example. He might fancy the challenge and also might fancy the fact that he still thinks he is better than Isak and can get in the team. He could easily play 30 games.

“There is that, or you go and spend decent money on a really exciting 17–18‑year‑old. You are however still gambling on whether they are capable of producing the goods as a second string to Isak. A difficult decision for Liverpool either way, but they are going to have to go out and get someone.”
In Cole’s eyes, Lewandowski offers:

1. Proven world‑class finishing at the highest level.
2. Short‑term cover that does not block Ekitike in the long run.
3. Potentially low transfer cost, as a free agent, even if the wages would be high.
4. The mentality to handle big Champions League nights and the pressure of a title race.
   Why Lewandowski would be the wrong signing for Liverpool

Michael Owen takes a very different view. The former striker admits Liverpool have issues up front — but he does not see Lewandowski as the solution and is not even convinced that buying another striker at all is the right move.
On the idea of signing Lewandowski, Owen said: “I would not have thought it would be something that Liverpool would do, would be my guess. You say that they probably need a striker, I cannot imagine them buying a striker personally.

“You have got two strikers that you have just spent an absolute fortune on, you are already struggling to get them into the team, both at the same time. One of them is back fit, one of them is obviously injured for a fair while. But it is not like he is going to be out for the rest of this season — all over the summer. He is going to be making his return towards the start of the new season, maybe the back end of the year. But in the meantime, you spent a club record on Isak.
“It is a bit of a blow that they have had two long‑term injuries to their two big‑money buys, but I would be pretty surprised if they bought another big hitter, a big name in that position. I think there are other priorities.”

Owen also doubts that Lewandowski, who will turn 38 in August, would accept the kind of bit‑part role that would inevitably come once Ekitike returns and Isak is fully fit: “I am not sure. I just do not see it. I do not feel it. That type of person, that type of player, I am not sure would be happy to just sit there and not play so much. You have got Ekitike and Isak, I just do not see it.

“I am all for a short‑term plug in certain positions, if you have got a youngster coming through or something has happened or you have got a long‑term injury or whatever. Liverpool are a very unbalanced squad at the moment. To go and get another centre‑forward, no. It is already a position that is a little bit, not quite sure how it sits. You might, if everybody is fit, have to play somebody out of position.
“To go and get another one, no, I just do not see it. I just do not see that at all. As I say, it is already a bit of an unbalanced squad. They made it unbalanced by the way they bought last summer and they have got to reshape that a little bit. I think that would be making it even worse.”
For Owen, the real priorities lie elsewhere:

1. Replacing Salah with a top‑class wide attacker.
2. Rebalancing the squad, which he describes as ‘very unbalanced’ after last summer’s business.
3. Avoiding another expensive, high‑profile deal in a position where two major investments have already been made.

He also notes that Lewandowski has attractive alternatives, with interest from Saudi Pro League and MLS clubs, where he would be virtually guaranteed regular playing time — something Liverpool simply cannot offer while building around Ekitike and Isak.

Both former players agree on one key point: Liverpool are heading into a decisive summer. Ekitike’s rehab, Isak’s form, Salah’s exit and the club’s Champions League ambitions mean the next transfer decisions in attack will shape Slot’s tactical options for years to come — whether that includes Lewandowski or not.