Manchester City in pole position to sign Borussia Dortmund star

DORTMUND, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on October 03, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. A limited number of fans have been allowed into the stadium as COVID-19 precautions ease in Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - OCTOBER 03: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Sport-Club Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park on October 03, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. A limited number of fans have been allowed into the stadium as COVID-19 precautions ease in Germany. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

According to German publication Bild (h/t The Manchester Evening News), Manchester City are in front of the queue for the signature of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland next year.

There was disappointment for Manchester City in the recently concluded summer transfer window due to their failure to add a center-forward to their squad. Following the exit of Sergio Aguero on a free transfer to Barcelona, Pep Guardiola had prioritized signing a striker.

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The Sky Blues chased Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane’s signature throughout the transfer window but never really came close to signing him, with chairman Daniel Levy apparently valuing him upwards of £150m.

Having missed out on Kane and interestingly Erling Haaland, who Borussia Dortmund were reluctant to let go of this summer after selling Jadon Sancho to cross-town rivals Manchester United, Manchester City ended the window with only one new face in Jack Grealish.

While the Sky Blues have been excellent in the two games post their opening weekend defeat to Tottenham, Pep Guardiola remains keen on recruiting a striker.

They have already started planning for next summer and want to sign Erling Haaland as a priority, claims Bild. (h/t The Manchester Evening News)

Haaland, 21, one Europe’s hottest properties, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in stock following his astonishing goalscoring displays for Borussia Dortmund. Since joining Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020, he has netted 63 goals in just 64 games, including six goals in five appearances in all formats this season.

The Norwegian starlet is already being circled by a number of elite European clubs, meaning the Cityzens will face a lot of competition for his signature next summer. Haaland has a €75m release clause in his contract which comes into effect from 2022.

Haaland is a generational talent and the Sky Blues getting him next year will see them potentially get a long-term successor for Aguero, whilst lifting Guardiola’s attack to a different level altogether.