A major transfer claim circulating on social media has sparked excitement among Barcelona and Erling Haaland supporters. According to the viral report, Barcelona are ready to pay €45 million for Manchester City striker Erling Haaland if Manchester City are removed from the Premier League.

The report further claims that Haaland has been on Barcelona’s transfer list for a long time and that the Norwegian striker would leave Manchester City if the club were expelled from England’s top flight.

However, a closer examination of the available information suggests that the story contains a mixture of genuine transfer interest, speculation and claims that have not been independently confirmed.

Barcelona Have Been Linked With Erling Haaland

Barcelona’s interest in Erling Haaland is not entirely new.

The Norwegian striker has been regarded as one of the world’s elite forwards since his emergence at Red Bull Salzburg and Borussia Dortmund. His goalscoring record subsequently led to a high-profile move to Manchester City, where he has continued to establish himself as one of the Premier League’s most prolific strikers.

Barcelona have previously been linked with Haaland, particularly when the club have been considering options for their long-term attacking future.

Recent reports have again mentioned Haaland among the forwards Barcelona could consider. However, there is an important difference between monitoring a player and making a formal transfer offer.

At present, there is no credible confirmation that Barcelona have submitted or prepared a €45 million official bid for Haaland.

What About the €45 Million Figure?

The €45 million figure is one of the biggest reasons the viral story deserves caution.

A search of recent transfer reporting does not produce reliable confirmation from major outlets that Barcelona are preparing a €45 million offer specifically for Haaland.

Interestingly, the €45 million figure has appeared in other Barcelona and Manchester City transfer stories.

Barcelona have previously been reported to have made an offer in the region of €45 million for Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, during transfer discussions. That is a completely different situation from an alleged €45 million bid for Haaland.

There have also been other major transfers involving Barcelona and figures around €45 million, meaning the number may have been taken from an existing transfer story and attached to the Haaland rumours.

For that reason, the €45 million claim should not currently be treated as confirmed news.

Could Manchester City Be Removed From the Premier League?

This is another important part of the story.

Manchester City have been involved in a long-running Premier League case concerning alleged breaches of the competition’s financial regulations. The case has generated considerable speculation about possible punishments if the club were ultimately found liable for some or all of the allegations.

Possible sanctions have been discussed in media reports, including severe sporting penalties.

However, speculation about a possible punishment is not the same thing as an official decision to expel Manchester City from the Premier League.

As of September 2026, Manchester City remain a Premier League club and are competing in the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Therefore, the viral claim that Haaland is preparing to leave because Manchester City have been removed from the Premier League does not accurately describe the current situation.

Haaland’s Manchester City Contract

Another factor that makes the reported €45 million figure difficult to accept is Haaland’s contractual situation.

Haaland signed a long-term contract with Manchester City that runs until 2034. That gives City significant contractual control over the player and means any potential transfer would ordinarily require negotiations involving the club.

Haaland is also one of the most valuable strikers in world football.

Consequently, a €45 million transfer fee would represent an extraordinarily low figure for a player of his status unless exceptional circumstances, such as a specific release clause or unusual contractual situation, existed.

No reliable evidence has emerged showing that Barcelona can simply sign Haaland from Manchester City for €45 million because of a possible Premier League punishment.

Could Haaland Eventually Join Barcelona?

That possibility cannot be completely ruled out.

Barcelona have ambitions to remain competitive at the highest level of European football, and Haaland’s profile would naturally make him an attractive target for virtually any major club.

There has also been continuing speculation about Haaland’s long-term future and whether he could eventually consider a move to another European giant, particularly Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Former players and football commentators have discussed the possibility of Haaland eventually leaving Manchester City if one of Europe’s biggest clubs makes a serious approach.

However, speculation about a future transfer should not be confused with evidence that negotiations are currently taking place.

There is currently no reliable confirmation that Barcelona have agreed personal terms with Haaland, reached an agreement with Manchester City or submitted an official €45 million offer.

The Bottom Line

The viral story appears to contain a real element of Barcelona’s reported interest in Haaland, but several of its most important details remain unverified.

Barcelona’s interest in elite strikers such as Haaland is plausible and has been reported previously. However, the specific claim that Barcelona are ready to pay €45 million for Haaland has not been credibly confirmed.

Likewise, Manchester City’s ongoing legal situation should not be presented as though the club has already been expelled from the Premier League. City remain in the competition, and any potential punishment would depend on the outcome of the relevant proceedings and any subsequent decisions.

Most importantly, there is no reliable evidence at present that Haaland will automatically leave Manchester City if the club were to suffer a severe Premier League punishment.

For now, the €45 million Barcelona-Haaland story should therefore be treated as a transfer rumour rather than confirmed breaking news.

Barcelona may well continue monitoring Haaland’s situation, and the Norwegian could eventually become the subject of a major transfer battle. But until Barcelona, Manchester City, Haaland’s representatives or a highly reliable football news source confirms an actual proposal, the reported €45 million bid should be viewed with considerable caution.

The transfer window is full of speculation, and stories involving superstar players can spread rapidly on social media. In Haaland’s case, separating Barcelona’s genuine long-term interest from unsupported claims about a €45 million bid and Manchester City’s possible expulsion is essential.