The Athletic’s David Ornstein has revealed that Real Madrid and Manchester City are the favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland in the summer transfer window.
The Lowdown: City’s striker pursuit
Over the past year, City have been linked with numerous high-profile attackers, with many rumours exacerbated by the lack of an out-and-out striker fielded in many of Pep Guardiola’s starting XIs.
One of their main targets has been Harry Kane, who was desperate to make the move to the Sky Blues last August. However, the Citizens had a sensational £125m bid rejected, ending their pursuit of him in the summer transfer window.
Ex-Fiorentina marksman Dusan Vlahovic was another prospect linked with City due to his incredible form in Italy, with 20 league goals already this season. However, the Serbia international instead opted to join Serie A giants Juventus, sealing a £66.6m move in January.
The Latest: Man City in the frame for Haaland
In early January, Ornstein revealed that City’s latest ‘top target for summer is Erling Haaland’, and he has now reported that Real Madrid and Manchester City are the favourites to sign the Norwegian in the summer.
Taking to Twitter on Monday morning, the reporter claimed: “Contenders to sign Erling Haaland expect to learn his decision in next few weeks. Believed to be Real Madrid or Man City. #RMFC want Mbappe this year & Haaland next but may need to move now as #MCFC ready to do it (though won’t wait long)”
In the corresponding report for The Athletic, it is claimed that the destination will come down to the 21-year-old’s personal choice. Despite talks with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, it is thought that it is a straight contest between Real Madrid and Man City for the Norwegian.
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The Verdict: City would be unstoppable
Haaland has already secured his status as one of the best strikers in world football. At just 21 years of age, the Norway international should still have more than a decade remaining at the top level, so signing the player could solve the purchasing club’s attacking issues for many years to come.
Having ranked in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals, non-penalty expected goals, non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists (via FB Ref), it is safe to say that he is one of the best goalscorers around.
With a well-documented £62m release clause which becomes active in the summer, this could well and truly be one of Guardiola’s greatest deals – if the Premier League champions can get it over the line.
With the number of chances that City create, the goalscoring figures that Haaland may produce (129 career goals at club level well before his 22nd birthday) could be phenomenal, and could well make the current English league leaders an unstoppable force.
In other news: Journalist shares big transfer update on this Man City-linked beast
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