Barcelona to sign Erling Haaland the day after my election, promises presidential candidate

Barcelona will sign Erling Haaland if Emili Rousaud becomes club president, according to the candidate’s assistant.

Borussia Dortmund forward Haaland is one of the hottest young prospects on the planet and has scored 17 goals in just 14 games this season, 33 of 32 since signing with Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020 .

Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are among the other clubs in pursuit of signing the 20-year-old sensation.

Borussia Dortmund prodigy Erling Haaland could move to Barcelona in January 2021

But as reported by AS, Josep Maria Minguella has said the Norwegian will move to Camp Nou if Rousaud takes the helm at Barcelona.

He said: “We know all the conditions and if we win the next day I will call Mino Raiola and we will accept these conditions. I have already informed him of this.

“We have a world-class sporting project which is not showing at the moment, but Emili Rousaud has a plan which will reverse this unfortunate situation (in Barcelona).”

Barcelona presidential candidate Emili Rousaud has vowed to sign him if he wins the election

Haaland has a release clause in his £ 65million Dortmund contract which comes into effect from June 2022 – with the German side unwilling to sell until then – while his agent Mino Raiola is known to be extremely demanding in negotiations.

Given Barcelona’s well-publicized financial struggles, a blank check to sign Haaland and meet Raiola’s demands seems somewhat unlikely.

Ronald Koeman’s side are in debt of £ 720million, with a payroll of £ 900million the highest in the world.

Last month, players and manager Koeman agreed to pay cuts after lengthy negotiations, which will save the club £ 109million, with £ 45million deferred – but still £ 16million less than their savings target of £ 170million.

Rousaud, 54, was vice-president of the Catalan club, but was one of six board members to resign in April following the club’s leadership by former president Josep Bartomeu.

The 20-year-old is one of the hottest properties in football after 17 goals in 14 games this season

Rousaud said he would accept all requests and conditions from Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola

Bartomeu himself resigned in October, with the election of the new president set for January 24, 2021.

Victor Font, Joan Laporta, Jordi Farre, Toni Freixa, Agusti Benedito, Lluis Fernandez plus Xavi Vilajoana, Jordi Roche and Juan Rosell are among the other candidates for the role.

Rousaud has already laid out his personal transfer plans and admitted in April that a return of Brazilian striker Neymar was possible.

Rousaud has also said he wants Neymar (right) at Camp Nou and Lionel Messi (left) to stay

Sports messaging reported earlier this month Rousaud’s concession that talisman Lionel Messi’s £ 500,000-a-week salary was ‘not affordable’.

However, the Barcelona-born businessman also insisted he wanted Messi to stay, despite the Argentine’s contract expiring in the summer of 2021.

The expiration date of his deal means clubs outside of Spain can start contract negotiations in the new year, with Inter Miami, Paris Saint-Germain and David Beckham’s Manchester City linked.