Man City's Erling Haaland 'to play key role' in Neymar transfer as Barcelona hatch plan

Barcelona are reportedly considering a sensational move to bring Neymar back to the Nou Camp - if they fail with an audacious swoop for Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker, 24, remains one of Europe's most sought-after commodities despite the fact that the Premier League champions consider the Norway star as untouchable, with Barca just one of the high-profile admirers that Haaland boasts.

Haaland has a remarkable scoring record since swapping Borussia Dortmund for Manchester in the summer of 2022. He recently notched his 100th goal for City and now has a record of 101 strikes in just 107 games.

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Those sensational returns have not gone unnoticed elsewhere, particularly in Spain. However, it's Barcelona, rather than long-term admirers Real Madrid, who are now being tipped to make a move.

Spanish outlet Sport claims that Barca have now made Haaland their 'top priority' ahead of next summer as they seek to assemble a team capable of dominating La Liga under new head coach Hansi Flick.

It remains to be seen if Haaland would be attainable for Barcelona, who have been plagued by financial issues in recent years. It is also highly unlikely that City would be willing to sell their talisman given his importance to Pep Guardiola's team.

With that in mind, Neymar is also an option being considered by Barcelona's top brass. The Brazil superstar, 32, enjoyed a successful four-year spell at the Nou Camp earlier in his career before leaving for a world-record transfer fee of €222million (£200m).

Neymar, who transferred to the Saudi Pro League last summer, is nearing the end of his contract with Al-Hilal. This means he could potentially return to his former club as a free agent in the summer of 2025.

It is reported that Neymar, who is on the verge of returning after suffering a cruciate ligament rupture last year, is aiming for a spot in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad. A return to Barcelona could be instrumental in achieving this goal.

During his time at Barcelona, Neymar made a total of 186 appearances and scored 105 goals before Paris Saint-Germain secured him in a high-profile deal in the summer of 2017. The report also suggests that Brazilian team Flamengo are interested in signing Neymar once his contract with Al-Hilal concludes.

Man City Champions League special

Manchester City want their European crown back. And this Manchester Evening News guide to the competition is the perfect companion to guide City fans through the new-look tournament.

In what could be the last try for Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne and a number of the squad that have won the last four Premier League titles, City are determined to go all the way once more in Europe.

2023 finalists Inter Milan, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain are among the eight teams City must face in a new first phase that features 36 teams in one giant mini-league. City will hope and expect to make their way through the league phase and hopefully go all the way.

The Manchester Evening News will be there every step of the way to cover Guardiola's bid for glory as City look to put last season's disappointment behind them and show that they are the best team on the continent.

You can order your City Champions League guide now with worldwide delivery right here.