Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has provided his take on a potential move for Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland.
With Manchester City only having one natural centre-forward for the upcoming season in the form of Gabriel Jesus following the departure of Sergio Aguero, it’s no surprise to see that Pep Guardiola’s men have been in the market for an extra body in that department this summer, with Harry Kane being very much the main target.
However, some reports have also Norwegian striker Haaland as a potential option to replace Aguero, and with a record of 41 goals in 41 games last season, it’s easy to see why any club in the world would want to bring him on board.
However, speaking to City Xtra, Romano provided his insight into the situation and claimed that it would be very unlikely for Manchester City to sign him this summer, both because of the fee that it would take for them to bring him in, as well as the lack of time remaining in the transfer window:
“My feeling is that it will be really difficult to sign Erling Haaland in this window. This has always been my feeling with Chelsea, and I go with the same for Manchester City.
“It’s a €175m fee and you have to pay also a huge salary to the player, and to his agent Mino Raiola. Really difficult, really, really difficult, and also Borussia Dortmund, remember what happened last summer with Sancho – they don’t need money because they sold Sancho and also, they are not selling players in the last days of the window.
“So if someone wants to sign Haaland, it [would happen] now, in the next five or seven days, because they’re not selling Haaland in the last week of transfers, it’s not in their style and is not in Borussia Dortmund’s style. So as of now, there is no contact between Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. Never say never, but as of now, nothing.”
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Given the amount of money that Manchester City have already spent this summer in the form of Jack Grealish, whilst Manchester City are one of the few clubs in world football that could theoretically afford to sign multiple players for that sort of money, with FFP looming over them, it would perhaps be dangerous to try and make that move this summer.
Plus, with his €75m (£63.7m) release clause kicking in next year, that is the more opportune time to try and make a move for him, even if you are running the risk by allowing a number of other clubs to be able to fight for him when his price becomes more reasonable.
So as Romano says, whilst there is nothing going on now, there might be something looming in the future for them.
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