Barcelona could repeat Antoine Griezman trick to win Erling Haaland transfer battle

La Liga 'lacking star player' after Messi's Barcelona exit

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Barcelona could controversially repeat the method by which they acquired Antoine Griezmann to put themselves in the mix for Erling Haaland next year. The cash-strapped Catalans had a torturous summer which included the departure of Lionel Messi, and laying out more money for another superstar could prompt questions regarding their financial sense.

Barca reportedly used external investment to bring Griezmann to the Camp Nou in 2019.

A monumental deal worth more than £100million was put together, and just two years on he was sent back to Atletico Madrid in a cut-price deal after his wages became unfeasible.

The signing of Griezmann was a prime example of the club spending money they didn’t have before taking a loss – it’s no wonder they currently sit in over £1billion worth of debt.

Perhaps unwilling to learn their lesson, SPORT claim that Barca could use external investment once again to make a move for Haaland.

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The precocious Norwegian is set to be available in 2022 when his £65m release clause at Borussia Dortmund becomes active.

Haaland’s entourage met with Barcelona long ago to discuss a move as Europe’s heavyweights position themselves to strike.

Other giants in Germany, England and perhaps Italy are sure to throw their hats into the ring, but La Liga clubs in particular will be desperate for a headline signing in light of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s departures in recent years.

Haaland certainly falls into the headline category, building on his already remarkable scoring record to bag 11 goals in eight outings for Dortmund so far this campaign.

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His release clause makes him less of a financial risk than Griezmann, and Barca would surely stray away from offering such extortionate wages, but it would still be a mammoth investment.

Just because they offloaded their best stars during the summer to leave them marginally out of the woods, perhaps it would not be wise to go straight back in.

Ronald Koeman has been at the helm during this unprecedented time at the Camp Nou, but even he now faces the sack after results took a dramatic downturn in recent weeks.

That at least seemed to be the case, although the international break has come and gone without any change taking place.

Perhaps President Joan Laporta has faced the notion that no other manager could, or even would be willing, to do a better job.

He will supposedly be battling the thought that Barca may only be able to turn their on-pitch fortunes around with a star like Haaland in their ranks.

It seems as though they have the ability to make that gamble through external investment – Laporta will think long and hard about whether it is worth the risk.

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