MANCHESTER CITY are increasingly confident about signing Erling Haaland this summer.
The Premier League champions believe they are in pole position to beat off competition from fellow European giants Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid.
City are ready to pay the £63million release clause in Haaland’s Borussia Dortmund contract, plus a further £35m in commissions to agent Mino Raiola and others.
That combined initial cost of nearly £100m, plus the Norway striker’s demands for a net annual salary of £30m, puts the deal out of reach for all but the richest clubs.
Real Madrid’s No1 summer target is PSG frontman Kylian Mbappe. If the Spanish side managed to strike that deal then PSG would be very much in the market for a high-profile replacement in the shape of Haaland.
Reports in Spain also claim Barcelona are prepared to go all out for Haaland, despite their well-publicised money problems.
Nou Camp chiefs are allegedly chasing new sponsorship deals and even contemplating selling a stake in the Barca Studios complex in a bid to generate the cash needed to sign Haaland.
But it’s City who are able to pursue the 21-year-old without having to worry about money or to second guess what other clubs want to do.
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And the word is that they are growing more convinced they will be able to pull off the deal.
They also have the advantage of former player Alf Inge Haaland, Erling’s father, persuading his son to move to The Etihad.
City would be able to guarantee Champions League football and there is a place in Pep Guardiola’s side for Haaland with Gabriel Jesus City’s only recognised striker.
But Real could also have an unlikely way in to sign Haaland due to their association with Adidas.
Several Los Blancos players are represented by the brand and after a secret meeting took place between Haaland and Adidas earlier this month, according to Marca, the Norwegian could partner with the brand.
Zinedine Zidane was also believed to be at the meeting and that means Haaland could be encouraged to move to the Bernabeu.
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