CITY WANTS TO RETAIN HAALAND
The movement with which Manchester City plans to 'stop' Barcelona's interest in Haaland
Published:17/10/2024 - 10:12h
Updated:17/10/2024 - 11:27h
Manchester City would already have its strategy defined to try to counteract FC Barcelona's interest in signing Erling Haaland, an idea that is gaining more and more strength in the field of transfers
Speculations about the future of Erling Haaland at Manchester City have been continuously emerging in recent days. In this regard, the information that has gained momentum in recent days suggests that FC Barcelona could be considering making a move to sign the talented 24-year-old Norwegian forward. It is speculated that this could happen in the summer transfer market of 2025 or in 2026, as 'The Android' is seen as a key piece to strengthen the forward line, especially given the likely departure of Robert Lewandowski, whose contract with Barça expires on June 30, 2026.
However, it is evident that Haaland's departure from the 'Sky Blue' team will not be a straightforward process. In this context, it is important to note that the Manchester club, having an elite goal scorer like Erling as their main offensive threat, is unlikely to facilitate his departure in the upcoming transfer windows. They might demand a substantial sum that would make it nearly impossible for any team to sign the player, considering that his market value is around €200 million. Therefore, it would not be surprising if a transfer fee for the Norwegian exceeds 100 million.
Manchester City's Plan to Retain Erling Haaland
Furthermore, it seems that Manchester City is determined to retain Haaland in the long run to demonstrate his importance to the club and deter any thoughts of departure in the future. As reported by 'TEAMtalk,' the citizens are reportedly planning to extend the contract of the former Borussia Dortmund player, which currently expires on June 30, 2027.
Now, according to the mentioned source, the 'Sky Blues' will explore all possible alternatives to renew Erling Haaland's contract. If unsuccessful, it appears that, as mentioned earlier, they might consider setting an extremely high transfer fee to deter interest from any team in the Norwegian forward, at least in the short term.
Would Haaland Consider Leaving the 'Citizen' Team in the Coming Seasons?
It is crucial to closely monitor how this situation unfolds. Several sources suggest that Haaland is reconsidering his future at Manchester City for two main reasons: the situation of the Manchester team regarding the 115 accusations of breaches of Premier League financial rules, which could result in significant sanctions, and the possible departure of Pep Guardiola, whose continuity at the club is not assured. Although the departure of the Catalan coach could influence 'The Android's' decision, his stay in the 'celestial' team is not entirely linked to this factor.
Nevertheless, it is undeniable that Haaland values his current situation at Manchester City, where he is a prominent figure and a leading goal scorer. Despite the uncertain future, the Norwegian forward has previously expressed his comfort in the team: "If I say this now. Probably, it will be a huge headline tomorrow. We never know what the future holds, but I am happy. You can write this, but you also have to write everything I said before," he concluded.