A familiar name, a very different problem
Barcelona want Erling Haaland. They have wanted him for a long time. That much has never really been in dispute. What has changed is the sheer scale of the obstacle standing between the Catalan club and the Manchester City striker.
Haaland's contract at the Etihad runs until 2034. That is not a typo. When he signed the new deal, there were no active release clauses written into it. The only escape route comes at the end of the 2028-29 campaign, when a clause finally becomes available. Until then, Barcelona can look all they like.
Hansi Flick is understood to be a serious fan of what Haaland offers. The Barcelona manager wants a proper number nine, a focal point to succeed Robert Lewandowski and keep his side ahead of Real Madrid. Haaland fits that brief perfectly. Getting him out of Manchester, though, is a different conversation entirely.
Getting him out of Manchester City is going to be a totally different prospect due to his contract length, and obviously his price tag as well.
There is talk of a huge offer being prepared for next year. Barcelona are among the clubs with a genuine interest in the 26-year-old. But the numbers involved, and the length of the deal he signed, make this a far more complicated pursuit than previous flirtations.
Why City hold all the cards
Haaland has scored 168 goals in 2014 appearances for City. That tally includes six strikes in as many outings since the start of this season. He is not a player you replace easily, and City have no reason to entertain offers.
For Barcelona, the dream signing remains exactly that. A dream. The reality is a contract that runs for another eight years and a clause that does not become active for several seasons yet. They can plan, they can admire, but they cannot act.
City, for their part, will be quite happy with the arrangement.