Laporta reacts to reports of Haaland joining Barcelona
Carlo Garganese
- 8 Mar 2022 09:15 GMT
- 3 min read
Joan Laporta has refused to discuss whether Erling Haaland will join Barcelona this summer, complaining that every time he speaks about possible signings their transfer prices rise.
Haaland is arguably the hottest young property in Europe after an incredible two years at Borussia Dortmund.
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Dortmund resisted all interest in Haaland in the summer of 2021 but it is widely expected that the attacker will move on at the end of the 2021-22 campaign when a release clause believed to be around €75 million will be activated in his contract.
Virtually every top club in Europe is interested in signing the 21-year-old, including Manchester United, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester United and Chelsea.
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But the three clubs most associated with Haaland are Real Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona.
It is understood that Madrid and Man City are in the lead currently, but Barcelona are also set to make a big effort to sign the striker.
And indeed in recent days there have been growing reports that Barca could be the team who gets him.
However, Barcelona president Laporta is refusing to confirm such reports as he says that Haaland’s cost increases every time he does.
“I can't talk about players because otherwise we'll raise the price. Directors know what Xavi wants,” Laporta told reporters.
“The advantage is that everyone wants to come to Barça.”
Barcelona are set to sign a central striker this summer, having failed in their attempt to buy one in the January transfer window.
Haaland has scored 79 goals in 80 games since joining Dortmund from RB Salzburg in January 2020.
He has already scored 149 club goals in 190 games in his career so far, while he has hit the back of the net 12 times in 15 games for the Norway national team.
