Barcelona have reportedly opted to pull out from the race to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar Erling Haaland, who is yet to make a decision on his future.
Reliable Sport 1 journalist, Patrick Berger, has offered an update on the future of Erling Haaland. It appears the Borussia Dortmund starlet is yet to make a decision on his future, amid interest from a host of clubs across Europe.
Three clubs, in particular, were keeping tabs on Haaland, but it seems Barcelona have opted out of the race. The Catalans appear to be aware of the massive finances required in the operation to sign the Dortmund star, with some sources even estimating a figure of around €250 million, factoring in wages, transfer fees and agent commissions.
Barcelona’s decision to drop the pursuit of Haaland effectively make Manchester City and Real Madrid the favourites to secure the services of the Norwegian starlet. Berger claims Manchester City have come up with the most lucrative offer, owing to their financial prowess.
Some reports even suggest the Citizens have a deal place with Haaland, and the player may soon announce his decision to join the club next season. As for Real Madrid, Karim Benzema’s advancing years mean they must be aware of market opportunities, and they do not come any bigger than Haaland at the moment.
Meanwhile, Haaland’s imminent exit amid the links with Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona has prompted Borussia Dortmund to scour the market for a viable replacement. The Black and Yellows are reportedly plotting a swoop for Real Madrid flop Luka Jovic, though Chelsea’s Timo Werner is also an option.
As for Barcelona, they are likely to set their sights on alternatives after dropping their interest in Haaland. The Catalans have been recently linked with a shocking swoop for Mohamed Salah, having already initiated contact with the Egyptian forward, who is facing an uncertain future at Liverpool.
However, Barcelona are more likely to target cost-effective alternatives given their financial situation. With La Liga recently reducing their spending limit to negative figures, the club may have no choice but to settle for players that are available on cut-price deals or perhaps even a free transfer.
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Someone like Paulo Dybala, for one, could be an interesting option for Xavi Hernandez, although his team could face stiff competition from Premier League clubs Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, in the race to sign the Juventus forward whose contract expires at the end of the season. As for Haaland, it looks like his next destination is either Real Madrid or Manchester City
