City see Real as biggest Haaland competition

Manchester City believe Real Madrid will represent the strongest competition in their efforts to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to The Telegraph.

The 20-year-old striker apparently tops City’s wish list at the moment as manager Pep Guardiola searches for a suitable long-term replacement for Sergio Aguero, whose contract is up at the end of the season. Chelsea are also keen to bring Haaland to the Premier League, but Real are expected to make a move to take him to Spain instead, and City see that as the greatest challenge on that front. On the other hand, the prospect of working with Guardiola, on top of his father’s history with City, could work in their favour as they endeavor to persuade him to move to the Etihad.

Haaland, who has so far scored 33 goals in only 31 games for Borussia Dortmund this term, reportedly has a €75 million release clause which kicks in at the end of 2021-22, but it is believed that a significantly larger bid this summer would tempt the Bundesliga side to consider a sale.