Barcelona are said to be planning a move to sign Erling Haaland from Manchester City in the summer, with money set aside for his signing.
Haaland has long been a target for some of the world's biggest clubs. There's a sense that if and when he does leave City, Barca or Real Madrid will be the likeliest destinations.
But with the Norwegian striker under contract at the Etihad until 2034, any club prising him away seems tough.
Or it would have before news broke that City have been found guilty of all 115 charges regarding to financial breaches, which could see a huge exodus alongside massive sanctions, either footballing, financial, or both.
If City are relegated as a result of the breaches, Haaland and the club's other big names almost certainly won't be staying.
According to insider account Indy Kaila, Barca are making plans for a £130million bid for the City striker.
What they refer to as "project viking" has been given the go-ahead for the summer, according to the post.
Erling Haaland attentive to Barcelona move
Elsewhere, journalist Juan Jesus has suggested Haaland and his representatives are open to the move to Barca.
He wrote: 'I can confirm this to you: for the first time, Erling Haaland’s entourage has taken a step forward regarding Barcelona’s interest.
'After receiving several confirmations, the Norwegian’s team has communicated to the blaugrana board an estimated transfer fee and salary demands for a potential future deal.
'This doesn’t mean he’s leaving Manchester City tomorrow. Haaland is comfortable there and renewed long-term.
'However, neither he nor his circle are fools: if one day he decides to change airs, his only option is Barca.
'The reasons are clear: LaLiga’s visibility, leading a sports project alongside Lamine Yamal, and being the big star in the return to Spotify Camp Nou.
'Laporta already has all this information on the table, though it doesn’t imply a signing this winter or this summer. The method isn’t new at Can Barca.
'After Euro 2024, Rodri’s agent did exactly the same thing: he passed on a price and salary set two years out to several clubs, including Barca.
'Two years later, Rodri ended up wearing blaugrana colours. The Haaland case follows the same simmering timeline. In private, Joan Laporta doesn’t hide it.
'Looking toward late 2027 or 2028, when the new Spotify Camp Nou is fully completed at 100% capacity, his ambition for this second term is to unveil a galactico to a packed stadium and sign one of soccer’s greatest unveilings in history.
'Laporta has been tracking Haaland since 2021, when he was still at Dortmund, and knows the roadmap fits.'
