Manchester City are in pole position to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland this summer, according to reports.
City are searching for a world-class striker who is capable of replacing the goals of Sergio Aguero as the league leaders look to reinforce their dominance.
Haaland has netted 80 times in 79 appearances for Dortmund and will be available for just £68m this summer, owing to a clause in his contract.
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Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and several other European heavyweights are interested in securing his services but according to Football Insider, City are leading the race.
This is partly down to City’s connection with Haaland’s father, Alf Inge, who played for the club for three years at the turn of the millennium. He is thought to be intent on persuading his son to join City.
The report claims the foundations are already being laid for a summer switch but adds that competition is bound to be ‘fierce’.
Guardiola said of Haaland prior to City’s Champions League quarter-final tie against Dortmund last season: “To score that number of goals at his age is not easy. He’s 20 years old and the numbers speak for themselves.
“When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, via counterattacks, in the box. He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it.”
Also linked with a summer transfer to the Premier League is Haaland’s Dortmund teammate, Jude Bellingham.
The Midlands-born prodigy has excelled following his move to Germany in 2020, attracting serious interest from clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester United.
Ex-Liverpool right-back Glen Johnson has urged his former club to make moves for both Bellingham and Haaland in the summer.
“I’d love to see Haaland and Bellingham at Liverpool,” Johnson told William Hill.
“They are two young guys who are built for the Premier League and for a club like Liverpool.
“They could develop over the years under a manager like Jurgen Klopp and I could see them becoming massive names in football for a long, long time.
“There’ll be competition from other clubs across Europe for sure, but I think it’d be appealing to come to Anfield, challenge for trophies and work under a top class manager like Klopp.”
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