Barcelona 'will try and sign Erling Haaland from Man City next year in a bid to keep Xavi'... with the club 'not giving up hope of convincing their manager to reverse his decision to leave this summer'

Barcelona will reportedly attempt to convince Xavi to stay at the club beyond this season by trying to sign Manchester City forward Erling Haaland next year.

Xavi announced in January that he will be leaving this summer after a disappointing first half of the season that saw Barcelona lose ground to Real Madrid in the title race.

However, since that announcement, the team have experienced an upturn in results to move into second in LaLiga and the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and Barcelona are now keen for Xavi to change his mind, with vice-president Rafa Yuste recently admitting they are still thinking 'about a long-term project led by him'.

In order for Xavi to consider staying, club chiefs will make a significant play for Haaland in 2025, according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo.

The club view him as the ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who will turn 36 in August.

Haaland has a contract at City until June 2027, and insisted last month that he is happy at the Premier League champions, but admitted 'you never know what the future brings', leaving the door open for a potential move away from the Etihad Stadium somewhere down the line.

The Norwegian striker scored 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund, and has found the net 81 times in 88 appearances for City, proving his credentials in Germany and England.

He could get the chance to shine in a third major European league next season if Barcelona can convince him to move to the Nou Camp.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta wants to bring Haaland to the club next summer, but is also keen to support Xavi in the coming months if he opts to perform a U-turn and stays for at least another year.

Laporta is planning to make a couple of important signings this summer to strengthen the team to get Barcelona back to the top of Spanish football. 

He also believes Xavi is the best coach to get the most out of Barcelona's exciting crop of youngsters, including Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, who have both broken into the first team this season.

Xavi is well-respected by veterans in the side such as Lewandowski, according to Laporta, which is another reason that he wants him to continue in his role.

Barcelona are unbeaten in their last nine league games - winning seven - since Xavi announced his intention to leave at the end of the season, and they have closed the gap to Madrid to eight points at the top of LaLiga.

The two teams are set to meet at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 21 in a game that Barcelona must win to keep their faint title hopes alive.

That match comes immediately after the conclusion of their Champions League quarter-final tie with PSG, with Xavi's side facing a pivotal few weeks before he makes a final decision on whether to stick with his original decision and leave or commit his future to the club.