According to Constantin Eckner of The Times, Erling Haaland's agent, Mino Raiola, is set to hold talks with Manchester City in January over a potential move for his client this summer. The striker's contract has a release clause of £64m which comes into effect in 2022.
According to the report, City are keen to sign a world-class striker after missing out on Harry Kane in the summer and Haaland is a top target.
Eckner notes that Manchester United also have an interest in the forward which is long-term. He writes that Ole has contact with the striker. The report states Chelsea were planning on making an offer earlier this year to pre-empt a bidding war before accepting that a move was impossible.
Eckner also states Erling's father, Alfe-Inge, has contacts in Manchester and is good friends with Bjorn Gulden, who is the chief executive of Puma in Norway, the same brand that sponsors City's kits. Puma have a contract that runs until 2029 with City and Haaland's Nike deal ends this January. The sports brand may reportedly attempt to guide Haaland to another one of their clubs or stay at Dortmund for another season if a move to Manchester City falls through.
Alf-Inge and Raiola went to Spain in April to discuss a deal with Barcelona and Real Madrid, although the Catalan club would not be able to afford the striker given the financial crisis they find themselves in.
Dortmund have not given up hope of tying the striker down to an extension, with the club's chief executive indicating they intend to persuade the striker with a new bumper £12.5m deal. His current contract is only at £8.5m per year. Their executive says that it "has not been decided" that the striker will leave this summer.
Writer: @j2mcfc
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