Erling Haaland is expected to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer. European superclubs all over are chasing the Norwegian talisman, but Manchester City and Real Madrid are supposedly leading the race.
Where will Erling Haaland end up? – is one of the big questions heading into the 2022 summer transfer window. The Borussia Dortmund frontman is, by all accounts, expected to leave the club at the end of the current season, with a 75 million euros release clause facilitating a smooth exit. Clubs all over Europe have been linked with the Norwegian, including Barcelona, whose manager Xavi Hernandez refused to rule out the possibility of signing the forward in the summer.
“I can’t give any details. The only thing I can say is that we are working with the president for the future of the club. I can’t say anything else. When things are done we can announce things,”
Xavi said when quizzed about his rumored meeting with Haaland and his camp last week.
However, The Athletic rports that not Barcelona, but their fierce cross-country rivals Real Madrid are among the leading contenders to win the race for the Norway international. Florentino Perez is keen to add both Kylian Mbappe and Haaland to his stable of Galacticos, with the former being the preferred option of the two.
The Spanish giants intend to sign Mbappe this summer and leave Haaland at Dortmund until the next – coincidentally until the summer Karim Benzema’s contract expires – but they will consider changing their plans should the opportunity to sign the Norwegian beyond this window disappears.
Meanwhile, the forward-less City, who, nevertheless, thrashed rivals Manchester United 4-1 on the weekend, are also among the top contenders to sign Haaland. However, they could switch targets should the situation revolving around the 21-year-old threatens to drag on deep into the summer window. City have already signed a striker for the summer: 22-year-old Julian Alvarez, who is due to arrive in Manchester from River Plate in June, before the club decides what to do with him next.
