Barcelona admit interest in signing Haaland as Robert Lewandowski's replacement

Barcelona sporting director Deco has revealed that the Spanish giants are interested in signing Erling Haaland.

The former player, who tallied 161 appearances for Barcelona, hinted that Man City's No 9 could be a long-term target to replace 36-year-old Robert Lewandowski.

The Norwegian has been ruthless in front of goal since arriving in Manchester, netting 105 times in 114 appearances.

However, he has reportedly been hesitant to sign a new contract at City, amid heavy speculation over Pep Guardiola's future. The manager's contract expires at the end of the season, while Haaland's deal is up in June 2027.

If he were to extend with City, the 24-year-old would want a similar option in his contract as he did when he was at Borussia Dortmund; that is, if another club's project appeals to him, he would be able to leave without being at the mercy of his current club's decisions.

While Haaland waits to put pen to paper, he has been classed by Deco as one of the only strikers in Europe that can replicate Lewandowski's output.

'I think it's very difficult to find a striker like Robert today. There are one or two of this level. Maybe Haaland or someone else. There are not so many of this level available,' Deco told Mundo Deportivo.

'But we're not going to be obsessed with looking for any strikers now because we're going to focus first on what Robert can do. I surely think he's happy to be here. He's a winner and if we have an important season I think he'll want to continue.'

Haaland has an estimated £175million release clause in his current deal at City - a figure that decreases after each season.

Last year, his agent refused to elaborate on the details of this option, only stating that they are known by none other than himself, City and Haaland and his father.

Whatever the intricacies may be, Barcelona's difficult financial situation may rule out a move for the striker before they even make an official approach.

They have struggled to register players for their squad because their annual salary expenditure currently exceeds La Liga's allowed limit.

For example, £45m summer signing Dani Olmo only made it into their 25-man squad because Andreas Christensen suffered a long-term injury and was removed.

If the Catalan giants do decide to act on their interest, it would likely be later down the line, as Deco insisted that they are more focused on the present than the future.

'Of course we have to do the work of the future, but if we are working more on the future, we forget about the present,' he added.

'We have to think about what we have to do now and not what we have to do in the future because what happens this season can condition the future.

'It is not enough for us to be alone thinking about the future. The work of the future is being done, it is being fulfilled.

'What I hope is that Lewandowski continues at the same level that he is showing. For me he is one of the best professionals I have seen in my life. It is not by chance that he is where he is and that he has scored all the goals he has scored or that he is at 36 years of age at his level.

'They are players who only reach where they are being high-level professionals and above the others. We are happy because he is connecting well with the team, he is scoring goals.'