Erling Haaland to hold talks with Manchester City transfer meeting to win £64m release clause
Manchester City is said to have scheduled formal talks with super-agent Mino Raiola in January to capture Erling Haaland. The Premier League winners want to go ahead of all other interested parties before the striker’s £64 million release clause comes into effect next summer.
Chelsea was the first English club to express an interest in Haaland since he joined Borussia Dortmund earlier this summer when they held exploratory talks with the Bundesliga club. The Blues, on the other hand, we’re assured that Haaland would not be sold at any price, so they turned their attention to Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku, who they bought for a club-record amount of £97.5 million.
City has now set their sights on ‘The Terminator,’ and his father Alf-Inge Haaland’s connection to the club might be crucial in persuading him to relocate to the Etihad Stadium. The 48-year-old was a City player from 2000 to 2003, so he is already well-connected in the city.
According to The Times, Haaland’s contract with Borussia Dortmund expires in June 2024, and City is eager to reach an agreement before his release clause money kicks in next summer.
A number of big European teams are interested in signing Haaland, with Chelsea being the most recent to show interest this summer, but Dortmund was unwilling to consider a deal. The Blues next shifted their attention to Romelu Lukaku, who they re-signed for a club-record fee of £97.5 million.
Alf-Inge Haaland, Erling’s father, spent three years at Man City, and the club is hoping that this will be a deciding factor in securing the contract. Tottenham Hotspur and chairman Daniel Levy would be delighted by City’s interest in Haaland, who refused to consider allowing Harry Kane to move to the Etihad last summer.
However, Raiola and Haaland senior have reportedly spoken to both Barcelona and Real Madrid in the hunt to sign the young superstar away from Germany.
Manchester United, who are in search of a replacement for Edinson Cavani, who is slated to return to South America at the end of the season, is also mentioned in the conversation.
Haaland’s amazing run has continued this season, with 11 goals and four assists in just eight appearances across all competitions. In 67 games for Der BVB, he has scored an incredible 68 goals.
After missing Dortmund’s last three matches due to a thigh injury, his progress has been halted in recent weeks. He was then ruled out of Norway’s World Cup qualifying matches against Turkey and Montenegro.
The 21-year-old is expected to play in Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against Mainz at home on Saturday.