European giants target 'purchase option' for Man City ace ahead of Real Madrid
Manchester City won’t want to lose the attacker anytime soon amid attention from Spain
Representatives of Manchester City striker Erling Haaland have held talks with Barcelona over a potential future move, according to Spanish news outlet Sport. The La Liga giants are keen to secure a ‘purchase option’ ahead of Real Madrid for if the player ever leaves the Etihad Stadium. His current contract in England expires in the summer of 2034.
Pep Guardiola’s side remain 2nd in the Premier League table behind Arsenal. They are seven points behind the Gunners with a game in hand. The North West outfit are back in action this weekend against West Ham away at the London Stadium.
Manchester City star Erling Haaland holds Barcelona talks
City won’t want to lose Haaland anytime soon, especially to a Champions League rival. They are well protected for the next few years and aren’t under any pressure to sell him. It would have to take a major bid from elsewhere to lure him away at this stage.
Haaland, 25, has been prolific since his move to his current club back in 2022. Prior to his switch, he caught the eye in Germany for Borussia Dortmund. The forward rose up through the ranks at local team Bryne before making a name for himself at Molde in his native country.
The Norway international, who has 48 caps to his name, is City main man at the top end of the pitch. He has fired 153 goals in 186 games for them in all competitions. Barcelona could see him as someone to bolster their striking department.
After penning a new deal last year, Haaland said: "I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club.
"Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it's the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody. I also want to thank [manager] Pep [Guardiola], his coaching staff, my team-mates and everyone at the club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years."
Txiki Begiristain, City's director of football, added: "The fact he [Haaland] is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love for the club."