KEY POINTS

  • Erling Haaland has a release clause of around $87 million at Dortmund
  • Xavi is expected to take over as Barcelona's head coach 
  • He is currently the manager of Qatari club Al-Sadd

Xavi Hernandez has reportedly given a list of four players he wants FC Barcelona to sign if he is appointed as their manager.

Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland, Manchester United's Paul Pogba, RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo and Sevilla's Jules Kounde are on Xavi's list, reported Spanish publication El Nacional.

Barcelona recently sacked Ronald Koeman as their head coach. While their B team coach, Sergi Barjuan, has been named as the interim boss of the first-team, the Catalans are still deciding on the permanent replacement for Koeman and former captain Xavi is being considered as a top contender.

Pogba is into the final year of his contract with Manchester United and the France national is nowhere close to signing an extension. It has been reported that Pogba has stalled his contract talks with the Red Devils and the club fears losing their record signing for free next summer.

Considering Barcelona's financial crisis, Pogba could be a feasible candidate since he would land in Spain on a free transfer. If Manchester United fail to tie the French midfielder down in a new deal, the player will be allowed to negotiate with foreign clubs from Jan. 1 and Barcelona chief Joan Laporta's good relationship with Pogba's agent, Mino Raiola, could play a role here.

Xavi spoke about Pogba and Kylian Mbappe in a recent interview. He said the two young players are "more physical than talented."

"He [Mbappe] is a formidable 19-year-old striker, who has shown great things to PSG and will continue to improve. Mbappe will be one of the cracks of tomorrow. But I find him more physical than talented, like Pogba I think, even if I have not seen him play this season," Xavi told French media outlet Journal du Dimanche.

Meanwhile, the player who is believed to be a top target of both Xavi and Barca chief Laporta is Norwegian sensation Haaland.

Ever since Haaland moved from RB Salzburg to Dortmund in January 2020, he has attracted several top clubs with his consistent performances. In 69 appearances, across all competitions, Haaland has netted 70 goals and 19 assists and has helped the German club win the DFB-Pokal trophy last season.

However, Haaland won't come cheap for Barcelona. He has a release clause of around $87 million and could demand a wage of $683,000 a week, according to Eurosport.

Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund
Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Signal Iduna Park on May 22, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. Getty Images/Matthias Hangst

Haaland, who is currently out of action due to problems with the hip flexor, has already scored 13 goals in 10 matches, along with four assists in the 2021-22 campaign for Dortmund.

While Xavi is still contracted with Qatari club Al-Sadd, it was previously reported that even Lionel Messi wanted his former captain to take over the club's charge as Koeman's replacement.

RELATED STORIES