Manchester City has a ‘contract in place’ to recruit Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer, according to reports. The 21-year-old has a rumoured £63 million ($82 million) release clause that can be activated in the summer, with all of Europe’s top teams vying for his signature in a transfer frenzy.
City is said to have discussed personal terms with Haaland, and they are now optimistic of completing a deal to bring the Norwegian to the Premier League.
About the Deal
As per the report, a deal for up to £100 million ($130 million) is set to be signed, with the amount containing his £63 million release clause as well as the fees paid to his agent, Mino Raiola. City’s primary rivals for Haaland’s signature are said to be Real Madrid, though The Mail claims that the forward will ultimately prefer to transfer to England.
Personal terms have already been ‘discussed,’ and ‘the framework of the deal is ready for City executives to sign off on.’ City, who has made Haaland their No. 1 transfer priority, is claimed to be unconcerned by the reported transfer prices.
Report about Haaland by UK Media
In the meantime, the Times reports that City is confident in its ability to secure a deal for Haaland. According to their account, City executives traveled to Monaco in February to meet with Dortmund’s agents to negotiate a potential transfer.
The meeting was reportedly attended by senior executives from the Premier League champions, including sports director Txiki Begiristain and chief of football operations Omar Berrada.
According to the source, City would tell Haaland to join them in the summer and disregard interest from Real Madrid for the time being, with the possibility of subsequently joining the Liga giants in Spain.
Manchester City correspondent Jonathan Smith says: “Erling Haaland has been identified as City’s number one target ever since they missed out on Tottenham’s Harry Kane last summer. Competition for the Norway international is fierce but that has not deterred City with the opportunity to work with Pep Guardiola seen as a major selling point.”
“Haaland’s representatives have spoken to several clubs but City has emerged as the leading candidate with Real Madrid chasing a deal for Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona hampered by financial issues. Meeting Haaland’s buyout clause will not be a problem and wage demands will have to be carefully considered with several high earners already at the club.”
“But City are pushing hard to complete a deal, with Guardiola desperate for a striker despite his side being so successful without a center forward.”
Word from Haaland
Although Haaland has not stated his intentions, he did disclose in January that the German side has pressed him to make plans for his future.
He told Viaplay: “The last six months, I have chosen not to say anything out of respect for Dortmund. But now the club has started to pressure me into deciding, but all I want to do is to play football. But they press me to decide now about my future. So that means I have to decide soon.”
“I have said from the beginning that I want to focus on football because that is when I am at my best, not when other things come into my mind. Now they have put pressure for a while. So, it is time to get things started. All I want to do is to play football, but I can’t do that now.”
Dortmund, meanwhile, has stated that they are committed to keeping Haaland, even though he is attracting a lot of interest and could go. The striker was rumored to have been in Munich at the same time as Xavi in early March to explore a move to Barcelona, but the Bundesliga club refuted this, claiming he was just there for treatment on a muscle problem.
Read: Manchester City reach agreement to sign Savinho from Atletico Mineiro
