Papers: Barcelona vice president discards Erling Haaland’s signing

Barcelona’s vice president Rafa Yuste has made a strong claim regarding Barcelona’s summer transfer plans, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

Yuste said that the club was coming off an economic crisis and that signing Erling Haaland at the moment was not possible.

“We’re coming off a huge economic crisis. I don’t think signing Haaland is possible at the moment.”

Erling Haaland has been writing headline after headline for Borrusia Dortmund since his move to the club.

The youngster seemed set to depart the German club in the last summer transfer window. However, the club decided to reject any approaches and keep the player for another season in the hope the club would win something spectacular enough to get him to stay.

However, this means that the player can move on a free transfer this season. Moreover, his relatively low release clause of €75 million makes him a realistic target for several of Europe’s elite.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Liverpool are just some of the big European names linked to the young star.

Barcelona, too, have been said to be scouting him. Since the departure of Luis Suarez, the club have lacked the cutting edge in front of the goal. Finishing has been the team’s Achilles heel, and Haaland could solve that.

However, the precarious financial situation renders his signing difficult. Though €70 million seems reasonable in today’s market, the agent fees involved would be a considerable sum.

Mino Raiola is a very close friend of Joan Laporta’s. Though this could be a decisive factor, the fact that the board have completely discarded his signing comes as big news.