Manchester City to fight until the end for Real Madrid’s top summer target

Manchester City are very keen to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland in the summer, despite knowing Real Madrid are in a stronger position to secure his signature, reports The Athletic.

The Sky Blues were in the hunt for a striker during the entire summer transfer window to replace Sergio Aguero, who had joined Barcelona on a free transfer in June. They were linked with moves for Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo but neither of them joined the Cityzens, leaving Pep Guardiola without an out-and-out striker among his attacking ranks.

Having recently lost Ferran Torres to Barcelona, Manchester City are set to be in the market for a striker ahead of next season.

Pep Guardiola has seemingly set his sights on Erling Haaland, with Man City planning to set up meetings with the striker’s representatives in the upcoming weeks and months to discuss a potential summer transfer.

The Athletic claims that Real Madrid are in a pole position to sign the Norwegian international, who has a contract with Borussia Dortmund until 2024. However, Manchester City ‘want to be in the race until it’s over’ and have the money to afford Erling Haaland, the report adds.

The competition for Haaland will be fierce, with Europe’s bigwigs in a queue to make the Dortmund ace put pen to paper. The Norwegian has scored goals left, right and centre for Dortmund since arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020 and fits the billing perfectly at the Etihad Stadium to be the successor to the legendary Aguero.

One can certainly expect the race for one of the most coveted young strikers in Europe to continue to heat up across the next few weeks and months, with the Cityzens believed to go all out for the Norwegian international’s signature.

It remains to be seen whether or not Haaland picks Man City as his next destination.