Real Madrid could attempt to sign Erling Haaland as well as Kylian Mbappe next summer in an attempt to take advantage of the financial problems at Barcelona by landing the two most sought-after players in world football, sources told ESPN.
Real failed with a €200 million move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Mbappe during the summer transfer window, but the France international is expected to move to the Bernabeu as a free agent when his PSG contract expires at the end of this season.
And although they face competition from Manchester City, Manchester United and PSG for Borussia Dortmund forward, Haaland, Real believe they can structure a deal to take the 21-year-old Norwegian to Madrid.
With four big earners — Gareth Bale, Isco, Luka Modric and Marcelo — due to be out of contract and off the wage bill at Real at the end of the season, the LaLiga leaders will have the financial headroom to fund a move for Haaland and also pay his and Mbappe’s wages.
ESPN reported in October that Haaland will command an annual salary of £30m if he leaves Dortmund, where a €75m release clause will be active at the end of this season.
Sources told ESPN that Haaland and his advisors will consider interest from a range of clubs, but Real is the leading contenders to sign the Norway international.
While Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, remains determined to challenge for Haaland, the club’s financial problems are likely to make such a move impossible. Barcelona announced debts of €1.35 billion in September — a situation which forced the club to accept defeat in its efforts to keep Lionel Messi at Camp Nou and also led to the departure of Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid.
Although Barca is now making moves to strengthen their squad, with Ferran Torres arriving from City in a €55m deal this week, the five-time Champions League winners are unable to compete with Europe’s richest clubs in the race to sign Haaland and sources said that Real know they have a rare opportunity to open up a huge gap between themselves and Barca by strengthening while their biggest rivals are in a state of financial turmoil.
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