Barcelona have stepped up the pace in the race to land Erling Haaland.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Real Madrid are also in the hunt to sign the Borussia Dortmund star this summer.
But Barca have looked to steal a march on their rivals with president Joan Laporta and sporting director Jordi Cruyff holding official talks with the player’s agent Mino Raiola earlier this month.
The trio met in Monaco 11 days ago, with Laporta and Cruyff heading to the principality, where super-agent Raiola lives.
There the duo formalised Barcelona ’s interest in the 21-year-old son of former Leeds and Manchester City star Alf-Inge Haaland.
Prior to his meeting with the Nou Camp officials, Raiola and Haaland senior had themselves met, with the youngster’s dad fully involved in all discussions.
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Barca were made fully aware of the financial package Haaland’s camp are seeking and they will now try to work out how to make a move for the player work.
Haaland is looking for wages of between £21million and £30m a season.
City will have to better whatever Barcelona can offer the striker in terms of salary and bonuses to be in with a chance of tempting him to the Etihad.
They must also factor in a transfer fee of around £63m, as that is the release clause in Haaland’s contract at Dortmund.
Naturally, Raiola is determined to get the best possible contract offer for his client and he intends to continue meeting with representatives from all of those clubs with the means to sign him.
But Barcelona have made clear their intentions and Europe’s other top clubs must now get to work in their bid for secure Haaland’s signature.
