Report: Barcelona’s Ambitious Plan to Snatch £100m Man City Star | OneFootball

Erling Haaland and Barcelona: The £100m Release Clause Saga

Erling Haaland’s future at Manchester City remains the subject of intense speculation, with the Norwegian superstar reportedly open to signing a new deal at the Etihad. However, there’s a catch. According to TEAMtalk, Haaland’s willingness to extend his stay hinges on one crucial condition—a £100m release clause.

Haaland’s Contract Demands

TEAMtalk has revealed that while Haaland is ready to sign a new contract with Manchester City, the striker insists on including a release clause of £100m. This figure, as quoted by TEAMtalk, has left City in a difficult position, with negotiations at a standstill. The club is understandably wary, knowing that Europe’s elite, including Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, would be more than willing to match that price for one of the most sought-after talents in football.

Manchester City, however, are not backing down easily. They reportedly want any release clause to be much higher, reflecting Haaland’s market value and their desire to retain him for as long as possible. As TEAMtalk stated, City “know that they would almost certainly lose Haaland as clubs would be happy to pay £100m to bring him in.”

Barcelona’s Ambitious Plan

Barcelona have been long-time admirers of Haaland, and despite their well-documented financial struggles, they remain eager to bring the Norwegian striker to the Camp Nou. However, as TEAMtalk reports, signing Haaland would come with considerable challenges for the Catalan giants.

Barcelona’s wage structure would need a significant reshuffle, with the first major casualty being Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker currently commands a massive salary of over £250,000 per week, and TEAMtalk has learned that his departure would be essential for Barcelona to have any chance of meeting Haaland’s wage demands, which are slightly higher than the £550,000 per week he earns at Manchester City.

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The club would also need to offload other big names, such as Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Ansu Fati, and Frenkie de Jong. Even then, TEAMtalk suggests that a move for Haaland is more realistic in 2026, as Lewandowski is unlikely to leave before his contract expires in 2026, thus blocking a large portion of the wage bill.

Can Barcelona Afford Haaland?

The notion of Haaland donning the famous Blaugrana colours is an enticing one, but TEAMtalk suggests it’s far from straightforward. While Barcelona might dream of pairing Haaland with their young and talented squad, they will need to make sacrifices to get there. Lewandowski’s exit seems the most practical solution, but shifting a player of his stature, with his wage demands, won’t be easy.

In the meantime, City and Haaland continue their contract discussions, and it remains to be seen if both parties can reach a compromise over the controversial release clause.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

These ongoing negotiations over Erling Haaland’s future will no doubt stir a mix of emotions. On one hand, seeing Haaland commit to Man City club long-term is a priority for them. After all, he’s been nothing short of spectacular since his arrival, and losing him—especially at a mere £100m—would be a blow City might struggle to recover from.

However, the other side of this debate is City’s financial pragmatism. If they were to insert a release clause at £100m, as Haaland’s camp desires, they’d essentially be opening the door for Europe’s wealthiest clubs to swoop in. City fans might worry that Real Madrid, PSG, or even Barcelona could trigger the clause at any time, creating an environment of uncertainty around one of their key players.

Moreover, many fans might feel that Haaland should be worth significantly more than £100m in the current market, especially given his impact and the inflated prices for top-tier players. The question isn’t just about keeping Haaland at City, but ensuring that if he does leave, it’s at a price that reflects his true value.