Manchester City cop a body blow in Erling Haaland transfer race

BOCHUM, GERMANY - DECEMBER 11: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund looks on ahead of the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and Borussia Dortmund at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on December 11, 2021 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)
BOCHUM, GERMANY - DECEMBER 11: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund looks on ahead of the Bundesliga match between VfL Bochum and Borussia Dortmund at Vonovia Ruhrstadion on December 11, 2021 in Bochum, Germany. (Photo by Joosep Martinson/Getty Images)

Manchester City have copped a body blow to their hopes of landing Erling Haaland next term as the striker’s super-agent was spotted holding official discussions with Barcelona club president, Joan Laporta.

Numerous sources have revealed that the meeting between the two, who are said to hold a good relationship, was not informal and was planned ‘weeks in advance’. Mateu Alemany was also a part of the meeting.

It is understood that Laporta and Raiola met in Turin, who were there attending the Golden Boy ceremony. The talks included the likes of Paul Pogba, Erling Haaland, Xavi Simmons, and Mazraoui. The talks between the two have been said to be ‘positive’ though nothing is in the final stages yet.

Raiola and Laporta share a very good relationship and with Barcelona set to enter into a CVC deal which will give them a considerable amount of financial room, a few departures from the club will see them reach a position to make a substantial bid for Haaland next season. Moreover, Raiola is said to be willing his commission fee for Barcelona.

In short, if Barcelona can manage the finances, they have got a very good chance of signing the striker, who is also being circled by the likes of Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayern Munich are unlikely to spend as much as €120 million on a single player and Real Madrid, though interested in signing the 21-year-old, will find it difficult to do so because Haaland is not said to be too keen on sharing the limelight with Vinicius Jr., and Kylian Mbappe (who is tipped to finally get his ‘dream move’ to Madrid next summer).

Manchester United will find it difficult to convince Haaland to join them, particularly if they fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season and that only leaves out City and Barcelona as the clear favorites to land the Norwegian goal-machine.

Paris Saint-Germain are unlikely to acquire the striker’s services because the player is said to be keen on making a move to either Spain or England.

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