Another new transfer target has emerged for Barcelona in former Eintracht Frankfurt striker, Sebastien Haller, as they seek solutions to their striker crisis.
The news broke early in the month but there was nothing to it until Spanish outlet El Nacional and Okdiario‘s chief pundit Eduardo Inda both confirmed it early this week.
Inda went on popular Spanish football show El Chiringuito to mention that Xavi Hernandez, the Barcelona manager, likes the striker, whose form has seen him grab all the headlines and attention of many clubs across Europe.
El Nacional also claimed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is in negotiations with the striker for a summer move from his current club, Ajax Amsterdam, where he is currently enjoying the best season of his career.
Haller is currently the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League top scorer, with 10 goals from six group stage games. The 27-year-old also has the same amount of goals in the Eredivisie, with 12 goals in 17 league appearances for Ajax.
El Nacional claims that Haller became an option after Barcelona’s prime long-term striker targets – Erling Haaland, Dušan Vlahović and Alexander Isak – turned out to be too expensive for the Catalans to pursue in their current state.
Edinson Cavani looks to be on his way to Barcelona as a short term replacement for Sergio Aguero, who retired earlier in the month following a heart issue he suffered playing for Barcelona in October. The club have also agreed to a €55 million deal with Manchester City to sign Ferran Torres, who can also take up the central striker role despite not being a natural striker.
The reports state that Barcelona will only have to spend in excess of €40 million to Ajax if Haller decides to sign for them, which is a much lesser fee than what could be paid for any of the three long-term options of Haaland, Vlahović or Isak.
Ajax, however, have ruled out any January moves for the striker as he is integral to their season.
Dembele chooses Barcelona; Manchester United to block Cavani move to Camp Nou
Fresh reports claim that Ousmane Dembele has finally made a decision on his Barcelona future. The Frenchman has chosen to continue at Camp Nou despite his entourage wanting a fresh start for the winger.
The 24-year-old has been in talks with Barcelona over his contract situation for months now with no visible light at the end of the tunnel. Dembele has now lit up the path but the details are yet to be confirmed.
Elsewhere, reports are now claiming that Manchester United will block Edinson Cavani’s move to Barcelona in January.
The 34-year-old has reportedly agreed on personal terms with the Catalan giants and all looks set for the former PSG man to don the Blaugrana from January 2022, but United have decided to keep him as a backup because of the COVID cases spiralling out of control in the Premier League.
Manchester United instead prefer to let Anthony Martial go, which could throw a spanner in Barcelona’s plans.
