Mundo Deportivo’s Wednesday’s edition has ‘Plan Haaland’ plastered all across the front page, clearly depicting Barcelona’s stance over signing Borussia Dortmund’s ‘killer’ striker.
The Catalan club are keenly desirous of bringing in a star in the next transfer market, with president Joan laporta looking for a super fast and mega boost both on and off the pitch, with a deadly striker being the primary target. Barcelona have been ominously short in that department since shoving Luis Suarez out and allowing him to join Atletico Madrid last for a song.
Haaland is now the ‘big target’ and Laporta has the BVB player firmly in his sights, although there seems to be problems ahead, with the main one being the issue of a exorbitant transfer fee as the Norwegian’s clause is applicable only next summer.
Next looms the unwieldy, awkward presence of Mino Raiola, who will push up the commission and wages to sweeten the deal for his player and line up his own pockets.
Finally there’s the threat posed by Real Madrid as the stiffest competition to securing the Norwegian’s highly-coveted signature – although Laporta seems to have a plan brewing.
Barca and their president want to make it imminent to Haaland and his entourage that moving to Camp Nou will be better in the medium term because the youngster can continue to develop his already amazing skills alongside Lionel Messi, and then eventually emerge as the new star of the show when the Argentine finally decides to step out of the Barca spotlight.
Although this could mean lower wages than he’d get elsewhere initially, Haaland would definitely be assured of immeasurable financial returns in the long term.
Barcelona are also heavily betting Real Madrid preferring to sign Kylian Mbappe as their first choice, and – given that Haaland also wants a club that really desires him – that could work in favor of the Blaugrana.