FC Barcelona put six past Valencia at the weekend, returning to the kind of attacking form that made them one of the most potent and dangerous sides in Europe last season.
Striker Robert Lewandowski started on the bench but came on in the second half and scored a quick-fire brace, strongly reminding everyone of his quality despite his advancing age. The Pole is 37 years old but still going strong.
Ferran Torres has also established himself as an excellent back-up to the former Bayern Munich striker and has started all four La Liga games so far, ahead of Lewandowski. Slowly, there seems to be a changing of the guard at the Catalan club.
The Pole is in the final year of his contract at Barcelona, and this might be his final season in Blaugrana colors. With that in mind, Barcelona are actively exploring potential replacements.
Now, according to Fichajes, Joan Laporta has reactivated his dream of signing Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland to replace Lewandowski.
One of the best strikers of his generation, it will not be easy to replace the 37-year-old’s clinical edge. However, if there is one striker who has proved to be more lethal in recent seasons, it undoubtedly has to be the €180 million-rated Norwegian.
Julian Alvarez, incidentally another ex-City player, is another name on Barcelona’s wish list, but Laporta is keen to keep an eye on Haaland. The Norwegian could leave the Premier League club should they fail to qualify for the Champions League next season.
Guardiola has not enjoyed the best of times with City in recent months and, in four Premier League games so far this campaign, they have lost two. The Spanish tactician is too good not to get things right, but this is an interesting situation to keep an eye on.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Haaland. He is likely to cost about €150 million for Barcelona, which is well beyond their financial means. Thus, this remains a very unrealistic signing for the Catalan club, and only time will tell how it plays out.