Barcelona are reportedly in talks to secure the signing of Real Madrid target Erling Haaland with his agent and father arriving for a meeting.
According to a report from Spanish publication Sport, La Liga giants Barcelona have opened talks to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who is also a top target for Real Madrid.
The 20-year-old is the hottest commodity in the transfer market currently, having set the stage alight with his performances since joining Dortmund in January last year. So far, Haaland has plundered 49 goals in 49 games for the German heavyweights, putting the who’s who of Europe on high alert.
Indeed, the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all vying for his transfer heading into the summer transfer window.
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However, the Catalan outfit seem to have taken the first step towards his signing as they have held a meeting with the striker’s agent, Mino Raiola and his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, who arrived in Barcelona on Thursday morning to open talks with the club’s new president, Joan Laporta. Raiola’s good relationship with Laporta could be advantageous for the Blaugrana as per the report.
Barcelona are in desperate need of a striker having sold Luis Suarez to Atletico Madrid last summer. Martin Braithwaite is the only out-and-out centre-forward that manager Ronald Koeman has at his disposal currently, with the Danish forward also not used regularly.
So, a move for someone like Haaland would make a lot of sense for Barcelona. However, their financial situation could become a hindrance should Dortmund hold firm on their valuation which stands upwards of the €150 million mark.
Prior to his meeting in Barcelona, Raiola held discussions with Dortmund, something that the club’s director Michael Zorc confirmed. “Yesterday I spoke to Mino Raiola. We’ve made our intentions very clear,” Zorc told Sky Germany (h/t MEN).
In addition, a report from The Guardian indicates that Raiola and Alf-Inge Haaland flew to Madrid following their meeting at Barcelona. Los Blancos, too, are in desperate need of a new striker as Karim Benzema is 33 years old and lacks any sort of quality support in the attacking contingent as things stand.
Haaland has emerged as a top target for Real Madrid. The player himself is said to favour a switch to the Santiago Bernabeu as well. However, this sudden meeting with Barcelona will have caused some concerns in the Merengues’ camp. Raiola, though, is keen to hold discussions with all parties before a deal is finalised.
But, it is increasingly looking likely that Haaland will be on his way out of Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. And, it now remains to be seen as to where the 20-year-old ends up in the summer.
