- Amos Murphy
Reports: Erling Haaland to request release clause in Manchester City contract
The reputable Martin Blackburn of The Sun has revealed Erling Braut Haaland is likely to request a release clause in his contract, should the Norwegian move clubs this summer.
Reports on Friday night linked the Borussia Dortmund forward with a summer switch to Manchester City, with claims that the Blues already have a deal in place for Haaland.
A long-time target of the Premier League champions, Haaland is expected to be on the move during the upcoming transfer window. The 21-year-old is believed to have a £63million release clause that comes into place at the end of this season.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are also rumoured to be interested in the striker, but it looks as if City are going to pip the La Liga giants to his signature.
However, despite the positive news, further reports from the Manchester Evening News explained the club’s position on the move. Unsurprisingly, City are refusing to comment on the deal at this current time, with concerns over previous deals still haunting the Premier League champions.
The Blues have in the past been the frontrunners to sign a transfer target before a late swoop from another club has derailed the deal.
Regardless, there are still murmurs City are preparing for life with Haaland at the Etihad Stadium, as details surrounding his move begin to emerge. In his latest report, Blackburn explained that Haaland’s entourage is likely to request a release clause in the deal like they did when he joined Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg.
While it may come as a surprise to fans of English football, the practice of inserting release clauses into contracts is common on the continent. Almost all players in La Liga have a clause in their deal, which serves to act as protection for both parties.
So, should City sign Haaland with a release clause in his contract, what are the finances likely to look like? For starters, it’s unlikely to be similar to his current clause, which would allow a club to sign the Norwegian for less than £65 million.
Given the profile of the signing for City, it can be assumed the club will want a release clause that would eventually see them make a profit on the deal. It’s believed that the Blues hierarchy will not stand in the way of Haaland, should he eventually want to leave East Manchester, with previous deals involving Leroy Sane and Ferran Torres backing up this promise.
If City pull off the deal – of which they are in pole position to achieve – it is unlikely to be the final destination for Haaland’s fledgling career in elite football. Believed to have a long-standing desire to play in Spain at some point down the line, a release clause will allow the dynamic forward to easily secure his dream move in the distant future.
However, a similar thing was said when Pep Guardiola arrived in Manchester, with the hope that Haaland could stay beyond his initial deal. With City consistently challenging at the top of the Premier League and reaching the latter stages of the Champions League, there is nothing preventing the Norweigan from enjoying a long, successful and illustrious career with the Blues.
Written by: @AmosMurphy_
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