Barcelona 'confident' of signing Haaland in shock transfer swoop for City star

Manchester City tied Erling Haaland down to a huge nine-year contract back in January but that hasn't stopped Barcelona from plotting an ambitious swoop for the Norway star

Barcelona kingpin Joan Laporta remains 'obsessed' with the idea of luring Erling Haaland to the Nou Camp in 2026 despite the striker's decision to sign a lucrative nine-year contract at Manchester City less than 12 months ago.

The Spanish giants are long-term courters of Haaland, 25, who has plundered goals at a remarkable rate since moving to City in the summer of 2022 for £51million. The Norwegian has 111 goals to his name from 126 appearances and is widely regarded as one of the world's top strikers after taking the Premier League by storm.

Unfortunately for City, their apex striker's impressive returns has done little to quell his admirers among Europe's elite. And it now appears that Barcelona will show their hand with Robert Lewandowski expected to depart the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

As per El Nacional, Barca want Haaland to succeed the iconic Polish striker as their star man despite links to his former City team-mate, Julian Alvarez. Furthermore, Laporta is even said to be 'optimistic' of prising Manchester City's No 9 away from England despite the fact that any deal would likely involve astronomical sums, with Barcelona's financial issues in recent years well documented.

Interest in Haaland from Spain is nothing new; he was heavily linked with Real Madrid before Barca's bitter rivals finally captured Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. But his decision to sign a significant nine-year contract back in January means a previously reported release clause has now been expunged.

City would be resist any move for their star striker, who was at his deadly best in Sunday's 3-0 triumph in the Manchester derby, scoring twice. Speaking post-match, Pep Guardiola insisted that Haaland was better than ever and looks a cut above the player who plundered a remarkable 52 goals to help fire City to the treble in his maiden year with the sky blues.

"Erling has been incredible since the start but this season he is better than ever, Guardiola told Sky Sports in the aftermath of Sunday's game against Manchester United.

"I would say better than the Treble year. He's dynamic and I don't judge him for the clearance, we want him to score goals and to help us."