Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland is prepared to snub interest from the Premier League and wants to play for Real Madrid.
Haaland has cemented his reputation as Europe’s most prolific young centre forward and majority of the continent’s heavyweight teams are positioning themselves to make their move in the summer window.
The Dortmund attacker is reported to have a release clause of €75m in his current contract which will become active in just over a year’s time.
But, with the pandemic’s negative impact on the finances of all clubs, Dortmund appear open to the idea of selling their prize asset at the end of the campaign for a much higher fee.
Manchester United were close to signing the striker when he left RB Salzburg for Dortmund last January and although they are still interested, Solskjaer’s budget will start at just £80 million before player sales.
However, Manchester City are armed with greater warchest and are in the transfer market for a long-term successor to Sergio Aguero.
Pep Guardiola will get the chance to run the rule over Haaland when his side play Dortmund in the Champions League next month and has already billed the striker a ‘world class’.
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Chelsea, too, are reported to feel confident of winning the race given there is a ready-made slot for Haaland to fill as the spearhead of the club’s attack but, according to Marca, Real Madrid represent his dream club.
The Spanish side made no big signings at all last summer and although Karim Benzema has been in good form, the former France international will turn 34 in December.
Real Madrid are also monitoring Kylian Mbappe’s situation at PSG where the Frenchman is yet to agree on a new deal, but Haaland is likely to represent a more cost-effective solution.