Spanish giants Barcelona are considering a surprise summer move for Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku, according to Spanish reports.
It is, of course, common knowledge that those in a position of power at the Camp Nou are on the lookout for reinforcements up top ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
With Martin Braithwaite expected to be moved on over the months ahead, and Memphis Depay's future hanging in the balance, Xavi Hernandez and co. have come to the understandable decision that fresh options are required to both challenge and potentially usurp Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the club's first-choice centre-forward.
Bayern Munich hitman Robert Lewandowski, in turn, is widely understood to have been identified as Barca's first-choice summer target.
To this point, however, despite 'Lewa' himself having made clear his desire for a new challenge, the transfer team in Bavaria have refused to budge on their stance that the club's star hitman will see out the final year of his contract.
So, where do Barcelona go from here? Well, as alluded to above, an insight into precisely that has been provided on Thursday.
The info comes courtesy of Mundo Deportivo, who suggest that an altogether surprising backup plan is currently in the process of being pieced together in Catalunya, in the case of the club's Lewandowski pursuit coming up short.
The Blaugrana, it is understood, are ready to turn their attentions towards Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku.
Any such move would come in the form of a loan, amid the suggestion that Barcelona and Chelsea alike could well benefit from such a deal.
The former, of course, would land a striker who has long proven his goalscoring pedigree across the continent, but remains trapped in something of a difficult situation in west London owing to an altogether underwhelming debut campaign back at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, meanwhile, would shift the Belgian's massive wage packet off their books for the year, whilst potentially seeing 'Big Rom' rediscover his brilliant best in Spain.
Far from a likely transfer, but seemingly one to keep an eye on as the summer progresses...