Gossip: Haaland’s £157m offer, Barca eye Man Utd, Arsenal target
The terms of Barcelona’s offer for Erling Haaland have been laid out, while Luis Suarez could replace Arsenal-bound Ollie Watkins…
BARCA OFFER HAALAND £157M
Real Madrid reckon they can sign both Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the summer, but Barcelona are making their own plans to land the Borussia Dortmund goal machine.
After their recent financial turmoil, it seems the Catalans have started sh*ting euros again if their offer to Haaland is any indication. Barca have met with the centre-forward’s representatives on a number of occasions and Xavi is believed to have bene in Germany over the last week to sit down with Haaland himself.
At that summit, Barca’s terms were laid out and according to Deportes Cuatro, Haaland has been offered a contract worth around £157million over five years, breaking down as follows: £16.5million for his first season; almost £25million for his second; £33million in the third; then £41.5million, and finally £45.5million in the final 12 months of the deal.
In simple terms, over five years, Haaland’s salary would average out at around £600,000 a week.
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ANOTHER WOLVES STAR ON BARCA WISH-LIST
Barca won’t stop at Haaland in the summer. Apparently, they’re after Ruben Neves too.
The Wolves midfielder has been a long-term target for both Arsenal and Manchester United, but the Daily Mail reckons Barca have moved into pole position in the race for the 24-year-old.
It is claimed talks have already taken place between intermediaries. United and Arsenal have both been credited with a firm interest in the Portugal star, who was said to have been available for around £40million, though Wolves may be hoping for more if a bidding war erupts.
VILLA EYE KESSIE AND SUAREZ
Barca are also reported to be favourites to land Franck Kessie as a free agent in the summer. But that isn’t stopping Aston Villa from making a play for the AC Milan midfielder.
The Daily Express says the Villans have positioned themselves among Barca, PSG and Tottenham in the scrap for Kessie, with Milan also trying to convince the 25-year-old to renew.
Villa are also said to be keen to land Luis Suarez on a free transfer when his contract at Atletico Madrid expires in the summer.
GERRARD OPEN TO WATKINS SALE
Suarez could act as a replacement for Ollie Watkins, who is attracting attention from Arsenal.
The Gunners will be in dire need of a centre-forward in the summer when Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, their only senior strikers, both depart as free agents.
Mikel Arteta is said to be a fan of Watkins, and Football Insider suggests Steven Gerrard could be open to a deal having not yet been fully convinced by the England striker.