Erling Haaland to Barcelona: O'Rourke reveals what it would take to get deal done
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(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media, Imago)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sat 20 September 2025 8:30, UK
Barcelona have identified Man City star Erling Haaland as their dream long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski despite their financial issues.
Hansi Flick’s side are searching the market for a younger centre-forward option and would love to sign the Man City striker should he become available.
However, as I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Man City have no plans to lose Haaland given his importance to Pep Guardiola’s side.
Haaland signed a long-term contract at Man City in January to keep him at the club until 2034, and as a result will demand well in excess of £150million to entertain talks about his future.
Meanwhile, the striker recently smashed another record with Norway as Haaland became the first to score more than four goals in a game for his country.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on 14 September that Guardiola is “desperate” to keep Haaland at Man City despite growing interest from Europe’s top clubs.
Real Madrid have also been heavily linked with a move for the striker amid suggestions Haaland could be sold to fund Man City’s rebuild during the summer.
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However, City have no intention of letting their star man leave any time soon, and will look to deter any suitors, with a move to Barcelona “highly unlikely”.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “No, it’s highly unlikely.
I think he’d be a dream signing for almost any club, Haaland, and Man City are lucky enough to have him.
“He signed a new long-term contract extension last year to keep him at the Etihad until 2034, so to try and prise Haaland out of Man City would take well in excess of £150million, even more than that.
“City don’t want to lose their star man, we know how important he is to Man City with five goals in four Premier League games so far this season.
“He is arguably the best striker in Europe, his figures tell you that, so Man City don’t want to lose him.
Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media
“Barcelona would love the idea of having Haaland as a long-term replacement for Lewandowski, but their financial issues would make it very, very hard for them.
“They would have to sell a number of their other players to fund that deal.”
Interest in Haaland from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid is unlikely to fade given his status as one of the biggest stars in football, but a deal is considered almost impossible.
Haaland is seen as a highly unrealistic target for Barcelona, not only because of his role at City, but also because of the finances involved in a potential deal.
Marcus Rashford’s move to Barcelona was subject to issues registering the Man United loanee after overspending on their salary limit.
The Catalan club have faced issues registering new players in the last few transfer windows, and the addition of another mega-money star would only cause further issues.
Credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, Gary Neville labelled Haaland “immense” following his contribution to City’s 3-0 win against Man United and he looks set to remain at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy labelled Haaland the “best striker in the world” despite debates with Alexander Isak.
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