Erling Haaland transfer to Manchester City is likely to be finalized this week after agreeing to personal terms. The Norwegian superstar would meet with Pep Guardiola’s squad for the beginning of pre-season after City triggered the release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract. Several reports last month claimed that the Blues had agreed terms with Haaland’s representatives on a five-year contract, and are willing to make the 21-year-old become the Premier League’s highest-paid player on a salary worth around £500,000-a-week.
Pep Guardiola has been on the hunt for a successor to Sergio Aguero. Although, he had to adapt to a style of football that allows him to play without a recognized number nine, the Spaniard has always clamored on the need for an out-and-out striker. The soon-to-be four-time Premier League champion may have gotten his wish, and Erling Haaland looks like a match made in heaven for Guardiola-style football.
The former Salzburg man is a problem for any defender he faces with his intimidating build and blistering pace. He has suffered setbacks with injuries and goal droughts but still managed to amass 21 goals and eight assists this season. Haaland is one of the most prolific goalscorers in world football. Since coming on to score a hattrick as a substitute on his debut, he has netted 85 times in 88 appearances, providing 23 assists for Dortmund during his two-and-a-half-year stay in Germany.
The total fee could be closer to the £100 million mark with a hefty signing-on bonus and other add-ons due to Haaland’s representatives. Chelsea tried to poach him last summer, but his transfer fees were around £175 million, which proved too expensive for former Chelsea owner Roman Abrahimovic who opted to re-sign Romelu Lukaku.
Spanish outlet COPE had also reported that the 21-year-old hitman considered the offer from the Premier League leaders as the best of all the proposals, including from other interested clubs such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Barcelona. Interestingly, it has also been reported that Puma are in a pole position to become the striker’s new sponsor and are pushing their expected client-to-be to put pen to paper on the deal at the Etihad Stadium.
