TRANSFER TALK: Erling Braut Halaand's agent Mino Raiola Meet with the TWO SPANISH GIANT CLUB , BARCELONA AND REAL MADRID OVER THE FUTURE OF THE YOUNGSTER.

 

Erling Braut Haaland's agent Mino Raiola has met with Barcelona and Real Madrid about a move for the Borussia Dortmund striker, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague says.

Haaland's dad, Alf Inge, joined Raiola in talks with Barca president Joan Laporta and Real's Florentino Perez.

The pair were filmed arriving in Barcelona in what Balague said was "intentionally a very public affair".

"Everyone wins for this story to come out," he said.

"If you want to get to Barcelona in secret, you can. It's very easy."

With Barca in heavy debt and trying to convince six-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi to remain with the club beyond this summer, Balague said talks with prolific 20-year-old Haaland is a statement that the Catalan side "don't want to stop competing" with Europe's best.

"They want to have conversations with the biggest names," he added.

"Right now it's not about focusing on the negatives but on the possibility of actually convincing Messi to stay and signing one superstar.

Real Madrid have put money aside, but their main target is Paris St-Germain and France striker Kylian Mbappe, with Haaland seen as a second-choice option.

Haaland, whose contract at Dortmund does not run out until the summer of 2024, is thought to be worth around 150m euros (£128m).

With 21 Bundesliga goals already this season, and having last month reached 20 Champions League goals in only 14 appearances, Haaland has established himself as one of the most coveted players in Europe.

Manchester City are targeting him as a replacement for Sergio Aguero in the summer, and being seen to negotiate with the two Spanish giants is a strategic move by Riola, says Balague.

"It doesn't look bad to be caught in Barcelona talking to Barcelona because, of course, there is an auction for the player," he said.

"We have already heard from Mino Raiola that perhaps he thought it was a good idea to stay at Borussia Dortmund for few years, but possibly already Haaland is in a position to move to a bigger club."

In an interview with BBC sports editor Dan Roan in February, Raiola said: "Only a maximum of 10 clubs can afford to buy [Haaland] and give the platform you would like after you've been in Dortmund… and four of those clubs are in [England]."

Haaland transfer: Mino Raiola travels for talks, striker's declaration, Chelsea stance
The latest on Erling Haaland's future after the Chelsea target's agent - and father - travel to Barcelona and Madrid for talks

Erling Haaland is man in demand - but have Barcelona and Real Madrid now edged into pole position to sign the Norway sensation this summer?

The 20-year-old has emerged as one of the hottest properties in European football with a simply staggering goals return since joining Borussia Dortmund last January.

Indeed, the striker has netted 49 goals in as many games across all competitions for the Bundesliga side - and that has put a number of elite clubs on red alert.

A release clause around £65million it set to become active towards the end of next season, but in the midst of financial complications brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, Dortmund may be forced to cash in on one of their most-prized assets before then.

Barcelona, Real, Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs have been linked with a summer move for Haaland - amid reports that his agent, and father, have met with both Spanish giants.

Here is the current state of play following this latest development in the Haaland pursuit

Mino Raiola and Alfe Inge Haaland are well known figures in the Premier League - as they are with fans in the UK.

A world-renowned football agent who lists the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic as clients, Raiola is also responsible for the burgeoning career of Borussia Dortmund and Norway striker Erling Haaland.

Alfe Inge is, of course, a former City and Leeds United midfielder - but more importantly here, Erling's father.

Only this morning, those two were pictured at Barcelona airport ahead of talks proposed talks with the men who oversee transfers at the Nou Camp.

Despite financial concerns at Barcelona, even before the pandemic, reports of a fee around £145million have been mooted as returning sporting director Joan Laporta looks to make his mark in the transfer market.

Following that sighting, Raiola was then - along with Alf Inge - reported to have boarded a plane to Madrid...

Haaland declaration
In addition to Spanish giants Barcelona and Real, there is high-demand for Haaland to arrive in the Premier League ahead of next season.

United are reported to have made the 20-year-old their number one target - while big-spending City are preparing for life after Sergio Aguero, who will leave the club after ten years this summer.

Haaland, born in Leeds, has often spoken about his love for English football.

However, amid widespread interest from those clubs ahead of the summer transfer window, he gave little away when pressed about his future last week.

Speaking while on international duty, the Norway striker said: "I still have three years of my contract [at Dortmund]. I'm not worried about that. The media are the ones who write about it, I don't focus on those things.

"I want to improve every day. Ronaldo and Messi, I don't need to talk about them. They are the best of all time. They are still very far away."

Chelsea can bank £100m with Eden Hazard transfer but Blues have already been warned about return
Chelsea's summer stance
Following a transfer ban which coincided with club legend Frank Lampard's first season in the dugout, they roared back into life last summer with several big-money signings.

Among them were German duo Kai Havertz and striker Timo Werner from the Bundesliga.

On the back of Werner's strugglers in front of goal during his debut season at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are set to make yet another move in attacking quarters this summer.

olamilekansportgossip.blogpot.com understands that Chelsea will prioritise a new 'number 9' under Thomas Tuchel - and they don't come much better, or more prolific, than Dortmund sensation Haaland.

Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, the club should, meanwhile, be able to compete with the likes of City in terms of a transferg fee that is likely to exceed nine figures, despite Haaland's relatively low release clause.