Norwegian international Erling Braut Haaland has quickly turned into one of the most exciting prospects in world football.
So it does not come as a surprise that the biggest teams in Europe are interested in his services. Real Madrid and Manchester United have been monitoring his situation for a while now but the latest club linked with a move for the 19-year-old are Catalan giants Barcelona.
According to a story from Don Balon, Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola has offered Barcelona a chance to sign the youngster next summer. But is Haaland the right man for the club?
Erling Braut Haaland And His Style Of Play
A quick and physical striker who hardly ever seems to miss a chance to score, Haaland is a poacher, who picks up dangerous positions constantly in and around the box.
He joined RB Salzburg in January this year but has only come to the fore from the start of the current season.
Haaland has 11 goals in just seven Bundesliga starts while also scoring four goals in his first 106 minutes of Champions League action. He scored nine goals for the Norway U-20 side earlier this year and has managed to make his senior debut, already registering a couple of appearances for his country.
He is a hard-working striker, whose decision making is more than impressive for a 19-year old. His aggressive approach to the game allows him to dominate the 18-yard box while his ability to press high up the field has also yielded high dividends for the Austrian side.
However, he does not have too much experience at the highest level and might take longer to make an impact in La Liga.
Should Barcelona Make A Move For Erling Braut Haaland?
Haaland is not too effective when dropping deep to help in build-up play. But his awareness and technique are immaculate and playing with the likes of Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann, he could turn into a bonafide world-beater in years to come.
Barcelona could lose Luis Suarez in the next couple of years but have Griezmann who can cover for that role. This is what makes signing Haaland a sensible move for the Spanish side.
The Norwegian striker will not be pushed into the first team and can take his time to adjust to the expectations of a new league. He does have the potential to lead the attack for a club like Barcelona for years to come but it will be important to handle his progress in the right way.
Regular playing time in the best leagues in Europe will only make him better but he is still just 19 and has lots of time to improve as a player.
So, in more ways than one, signing Haaland for the future is a deal that Barcelona cannot afford to miss.