Manchester City star Erling Haaland has been linked with a shock move to a European giant whose president is "obsessed" with the Norwegian.
Haaland moved to 90 goals in the Premier League and 129 in City colours with a second half brace in the 3-1 derby win over rivals Manchester United on Sunday.
It followed on from an incredible five-goal haul for Norway in a 11-1 World Cup qualifier trouncing of Moldova just days earlier.
A £51 million signing from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, Haaland is in his fourth season with City and committed his long-term future to the club by signing a nine-year contract until 2034 in January.
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That contract, said to include mammoth wages of £400,000-a-week, removed any tempting release clauses previously inserted.
But while Haaland is so valuable to City and has taken on new leadership responsibilities under Pep Guardiola, reports in Spain say Barcelona are still sniffing around.
El Nacional say that Barca president Joan Laporta is fully focused on Haaland and is prioritising a move for him in 2026 - feeling as though there is a chance the 24-year-old could ask to leave.
Robert Lewandowski is currently Barca's No.9 but is coming towards the end of his time in Catalonia, with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.
Former City man Ferran Torres has also proved useful as a central striker but Barca are not convinced he can be their permanent talisman up top going forward and so new forward options are being explored.
Julian Alvarez, another ex City striker, has been considered by the board after a fine run at Atletico Madrid, but Haaland is the ambitious target.
Barca had been in for him previously but could not afford the required package, while rivals Real Madrid also hold a long-time interest.
However, according to Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider, Guardiola and City have no intention of selling Haaland as they look to return to their normal level after a trophyless campaign last term.
Haaland will look to get off the mark in the Champions League on Thursday when City welcome Kevin De Bruyne back to the Etihad Stadium with Serie A champions Napoli.
Topics: Erling Haaland, Manchester City, Premier League
Josh Lawless