Manchester City are optimistic they can face competition from Real Madrid to sign striker Erling Haaland this summer.
City are on the hunt for a striker and are confident they can put together a financial package to cover the €75m release clause in Haaland’s contract with Borussia Dortmund (which comes into effect this year), the Norwegian’s salaries and other associated costs, including payments. to agents.
Sources say the departures of Angelino, Ferran Torres and Jack Harrison (for a combined fee of around €85m) have left City in a strong financial position ahead of the summer window.
They also consider the lure of working with Pep Guardiola and a track record of success which has seen the club win three of the last four Premier League titles may convince Haaland to take the next step in his career at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland also has a personal connection to City after his father, Alfie, represented the club between 2000 and 2003.
The possible inclusion of a release clause in any contract he signs with City – which would activate at a later date – is seen as a hurdle, but not one that cannot be overcome.
Sources have told ESPN that Madrid remain interested in the 21-year-old but signing Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer this summer is their priority.
Madrid are awaiting the result of the Haaland soap opera before defining their transfer strategy for the next transfer window. They remain positive about Mbappe’s arrival as a free agent and, according to sources, also want to strengthen the central midfielder with a player capable of giving competition to Casemiro, with AS Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni on the shortlist.
However, Haaland’s decision will have a decisive effect on the rest of Madrid’s plans as the club are aware that they won’t have the same money for additional players if they do end up signing the Norwegian. Sources have added that Madrid are pessimistic about their possibilities of signing Haaland as they believe City are the favorites.
