Barcelona will have to shell out €90 million to sign 20-goal Haaland alternative

It is no secret Barcelona are planning to go all out to sign Erling Haaland in the summer. The Borussia Dortmund superstar has emerged as a transfer priority for Xavi, as he looks to shore up his attacking options.

However, the hopes of signing Haaland are dwindling at the Barcelona camp due to fears over the massive financial implications.

A recent report from AS has offered detailed updates on the saga. It is said that the Haaland operation could cost Barcelona almost €200 million, half of which are going to be considered as commissions for his father Alf-Inge Haaland and agent Mino Raiola.

Such hefty demands have forced Barça to look elsewhere, with Xavi particularly keen on the services of Mohamed Salah.

The Barcelona coach believes the Liverpool frontman could be the final piece of the jigsaw, as far as his attacking setup is concerned. Salah’s pace, trickery and productivity could add a whole new dimension to the Barça frontline next season.

However, the report suggests Salah, too, could cost a fortune. The Egyptian international commands a similar salary as Haaland – a figure of around €17 million per season.

Salah’s commissions could be significantly lower, though Barcelona may still have to shell out around €90 million to secure the services of the Liverpool star.

Salah has been in fine form in the Premier League this season, leading the goalscoring charts of the English top-flight with 20 goals for Liverpool. His current contract at Anfield expires at the end of next season, with many urging the Reds to extend his deal.

Robert Lewandowski has been identified as the other star alternative for Haaland, with reports suggesting the Pole’s desire to join the Barcelona camp next season.

Luring him away from Bayern Munich, though, could be the trickiest part, with the Bavarians having no intention of offloading their attacking asset anytime soon.