Manchester City is set to begin discussions with the agents of Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland in January ahead of a potential transfer next summer, according to media reports.

It has been reported by The Times that Erling Haaland’s super-agent, Mino Raiola, is expected to begin talks with Manchester City in January regarding a possible summer loan transfer for the Norwegian international, who is 21 years old at the time of writing. Dortmund’s striker has a deal with the Bundesliga club that will expire in 2024. The contract also includes a £14m release clause that will become effective the following year.

When Haaland moved to Borussia Dortmund from RB Salzburg back in January 2020, he quickly established himself as one of the most deadly attackers on the planet. The 21-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the greatest players in the world right now, and he is anticipated to take over as the team’s captain once the Ronaldo and Messi eras have come to an end.

He has been a sensation in front of goals for Bundesliga heavyweights Dortmund, scoring 68 goals in only 67 games. Haaland has quickly established himself as a big fan favourite at Signal Iduna Park. The Dortmund striker has had an excellent start to the current season, scoring 11 goals and providing four assists in only eight games.

As a result of his unplayable nature and the potential to acquire one of the highest-rated players the game has ever seen, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the most prominent European elites have been scouting for opportunities to sign the Norwegian sensation.

Manchester City is also interested in signing the Norwegian international and have been keeping eyes on the player’s development for quite some time. Despite the fact that Pep Guardiola has been working without a designated No. 9, many think that he recognises that this is unsustainable in the long run. The manager has thus requested that City’s leadership go all-out in order to make Haaland the club’s top transfer target in the summer of 2019.

Will The Player Complete His Move To The Etihad?

The Citizens have not yet replaced Sergio Aguero. He departed the club on a free transfer this summer. The club is in the market for a high-calibre striker. Throughout the summer, the reigning English Champions were strongly connected with a transfer for England and Tottenham striker Harry Kane. However, with the Lilywhites keen about retaining hold of their star-man, a deal never came to fruition, and Kane remains at Tottenham.

Even though the Sky Blues have not abandoned their pursuit of the Englishman, the downward trend in his recent performances, the astronomical price tag, and the player’s age could all be factors that influence the Citizens’ decision to pursue Kane as a primary target next year, particularly when there are better alternatives available in the market in Erling Haaland.

It has also been claimed that Haaland is interested in a move to the Premier League in pursuit of a new challenge and that Manchester City is the front-runner in the race to recruit him, with their strong connections to Puma aiding their efforts. The sportswear behemoths may provide an enticing sponsorship deal of £50m over four years to assist the Citizens in their efforts to entice Haaland to the Blue half of the Manchester city centre.

Apart from Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, other possible suitors include the likes of Chelsea, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich, among others. With the level of competition increasing for the 21-year-old prolific striker, it remains to be seen where he will finish up when the transfer window opens next summer.