'Maybe Erling Haaland': Barcelona boss names Man City star after transfer question

Barcelona boss Deco has hinted at a future raid for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland.

The Norwegian striker has been in magnificent scoring form since his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2022.

Haaland has scored a staggering 105 goals in 114 appearances in all competitions, helping City to their first Champions League title.

The striker has long been linked with a future move to real Madrid but his summer move to Kylian Mbappé seems to have closed the door on a possible arrival of the 24-year-old.

But that could pave the way for a shift towards their rivals. Barcelona who see Haaland as the perfect replacement for the 36-year-old striker Robert Lewandowski.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is understood to have tipped Haaland as the club's next high-profile signing before his term ends in 2026.

The Catalan club seems to have learned of the information that links Haaland with a city ​​of manchester departure after the possible departure of Pep Guardiola this summer.

Haaland's contract contains a £175m release clause, however the figure is decreasing with each passing year and City are hopeful the striker will sign a new deal.

But the lure of Barcelona could tempt Haaland away from City and the La Liga club see him as the perfect player to fill Lewandowski's shoes.

“I think nowadays it's very difficult to find a striker like Robert,” Deco said. Sports World. “There are one or two of this level. Maybe Haaland or someone else. There aren't that many of this level available.

“But we are not going to obsess about looking for forwards now because we are going to focus first on what Robert can do. I probably think he's happy to be here. “He is a winner and if we have an important season I think he will want to continue.”

The Poland international has been in sensational form this season, having scored 19 goals in 17 games in all competitions.

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Lewandowski secured a free transfer to Barcelona in 2022 and helped his team win the La Liga title at the first time of asking.

However, the former Bayern Munich striker has less than a year left on his contract, but is expected to extend his deal for another year.

Deco hinted that the club is solely focused on the players it has at its disposal and Lewandowski in particular, who has taken Barca to the top of La Liga.

“It's not a priority (looking for a new striker) because we have to focus on this season,” Deco said.

“Of course we have to do the work of the future, but if we work more on the future, we forget about the present.

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

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“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 no coincidence that he is where he is and that he has scored all the goals he has scored or that he is 36 years old at home.” level.

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