BARCELONA ‘must slash players’ wages and sell stars’ if they want to sign Erling Haaland this summer.
The 20-year-old Norwegian has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp after a remarkable campaign with Borussia Dortmund.
But Barcelona’s well-documented financial problems – which are understood to be £1billion worth of debt – means that according to Mundo Deportivo they will have to get rid of some of their current squad and reduce their wage bill in order to afford the young sensation.
A host of top European clubs including Man City and Real Madrid will scrap for Haaland’s signature, especially if Dortmund fail to qualify for the Champions League.
He has scored 31 goals in 30 games in all competitions so far this season, more than the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe.
His four goals in Dortmund’s Champions League last 16 tie with Sevilla booked the German side’s place in the last eight of the competition for the first time since 2017.
The 20-year-old knows competition for his signing is rife and is likely to demand wages in the region of £350,000-a-week.
And Dortmund’s chief executive Michael Zorc hinted that the club could be forced to cash in if they miss out on Europe’s most prestigious competition.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY FOUR OFFERS
Haaland’s contract with Dortmund has a release clause of £66million.
But it is being reported that the Bundesliga side will not accept any fee less than £130m for the world class goalscorer.
Therefore, if Barcelona were to pay that amount for Haaland he would come within touching distance of the club’s record transfer fee which was £145m for Philippe Coutinho in 2018.
The Catalan giants were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain last week, but have closed the gap to Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga to just four points.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
