KEY POINTS

  • Barcelona have made Haaland their top target for summer
  • Barca are looking at Haaland as a replacement for Aguero
  • Haaland has netted 15 goals in 19 games this season

FC Barcelona could reportedly withdraw from the race to sign Erling Haaland due to a situation involving Manchester United star Paul Pogba.

Haaland's representative Mino Raiola met Barcelona chief Joan Laporte Monday in Italy. Along with Haaland, Raiola offered Barcelona three more players – Paris Saint Germain (PSG) midfielder Xavi Simons, Pogba and Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui. All three are clients of Raiola and their contracts are set to expire in the summer of 2022, according to Spanish publication SPORT.

While the case of Simons and Mazraoui is an easy one as the Catalans are also interested in signing the duo, Barcelona have made it clear that they do not want to sign Pogba because of his high demand for wages and the agent commissions that would imply in this case.

If Raiola will continue to insist that Barcelona can have Haaland only if they agree to sign Pogba, then the Catalans will not go ahead with the talks as the club does not see it feasible, financially and tactically, considering head coach Xavi Hernandez's preferences, Goal reported.

Even though Haaland is contracted with Borussia Dortmund until 2024, his contract does have an informal clause that will allow him to leave for a fixed fee of $85 million in the summer of 2022. Apart from the Pogba situation, Barcelona will also look to reduce the commission for both Raiola and Haaland's father to make the move economically possible, Football Espana.

With the sudden retirement of Sergio Aguero due to a heart condition, Barcelona are eyeing Haaland as the "punch line" that the team needs. Haaland has already netted 19 goals and three assists in just 15 competitive matches for Dortmund in the ongoing season.

Erling Haaland
Welinton of Besiktas reacts as Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League group C match between Besiktas and Borussia Dortmund at Vodafone Park on September 15, 2021 in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Manchester United have accepted that they are set to lose Pogba at the end of the 2021-22 season and have identified Barcelona's Gavi as his "natural replacement." The Red Devils are planning to offer 17-year-old Gavi a lucrative contract that is impossible for Barcelona to even match right now.

Both Barcelona and Manchester United are currently struggling in La Liga and Premier League. After 16 league games each, the Catalans and Red Devils are eighth and sixth in their respective league tables.

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