Pep Guardiola ‘Insists’ on Summer Signing of Erling Haaland - Real Madrid Unable to Compete on Financial Level

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Pep Guardiola has ‘insisted’ on Manchester City officials completing the signing of Erling Haaland in the coming summer window, despite stiff competition from La Liga giants Real Madrid, according to the latest reports.

Erling Haaland’s signature is almost every club in and amongst the European elite’s resolution for 2022, given his availability and his prolific nature in the goalscoring category.

With the Norwegian’s £64 million release clause set to activate in the summer, a host of clubs including Manchester City look likely to prepare an offer for one of the most devastating strikers in world football at present.

As per a new report by Spanish outlet AS, Pep Guardiola is has ‘asked’ club officials at Manchester City to make a ‘definitive effort’ to lure Erling Haaland to the Etihad Stadium in the upcoming summer transfer window

The report further claims that the Borussia Dortmund marksman is said to have ‘instructed’ his agent Mino Raiola to reach an agreement with Real Madrid ‘as soon as possible’.

However, it has been stated that Manchester City’s financial superiority ‘changes the scenario’, as the La Liga side will be unable to enter a ‘direct competition’ with the Premier League champions to sign the coveted talent.

In addition, AS report that the Los Blancos must let go of a number of key players from their squad and free up their existing wage bill in order to accommodate any potential mega-transfer in the summer.

Despite the Sky Blues asserting their dominance both domestically and in Europe operating without a natural number nine this season, it has been reported that Pep Guardiola is ‘insistent’ on the club signing Erling Haaland before the start of next season.

A recent report by the Athletic in December also adds weight to this speculation, as it stated that the Spanish tactician ‘admires’ the 21-year old’s talent.

With a host of clubs in England believed to be keen on signing Erling Haaland, Sky Sports News’ Kaveh Solhekol has also reported that Manchester City would be in ‘pole position’ to make the deal come to fruition, if the former RB Salzburg man decides to pick the Premier League as his next destination.

While the competition to sign Erling Haaland in the summer is expected to be fierce, the prospect of him signing for Manchester City’s winning machine would be a scarier sight for all of their competitors in question.

You can follow us for live updates here: @City_Xtra

Erling Haaland and Thomas Meunier each hit braces as Borussia Dortmund hammer SC Freiburg

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Borussia Dortmund closed the gap to Bayern Munich to just three points at the top of the Bundesliga as they secured a comfortable 5-1 win over SC Freiburg at Signal Iduna Park.

Freiburg could not get out of first gear, and were behind after just a quarter of an hour as Thomas Meunier rose highest at the near post to head in Julian Brandt’s corner.

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The right-back had his second of the game on the half-hour mark, in what was a case of déjà vu for the Freiburg defence. He once again headed in a well delivered Brandt corner to give his side a comfortable advantage.

Transfers Haaland says Dortmund ‘pushing’ for decision on future 12 HOURS AGO

The hosts were three goals to the good just before half-time as Erling Haaland finished one well into the bottom corner from inside the box following a quick breakaway.

Complacency crept in during the second half for Dortmund and Freiburg got a goal back as Ermedin Demirovic scored an easy tap-in on the rebound after 62 minutes.

However, it was purely a consolation as Dortmund had their fourth in the 75th minute, with Haaland grabbing his second of the game after great work by Mahmoud Dahoud on the counter.

Dahoud closed out the scoring with four minutes left to play, rifling home a shot into the top corner from 15-yards out.

TALKING POINT - Title race hotting up

Do we at last have a Bundesliga title race? You bet we do. Tonight’s win now means that Borussia Dortmund are now just three points behind Bayern Munich having played a game more than their counterparts after Julian Nagelsmann’s side lost to Monchengladbach last time out. Bayern have a tough trip to FC Koln on Sunday.

Dortmund’s Belgian midfielder Thomas Meunier celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between Borussia Dortmund v SC Freiburg in Dortmund, western Germany on January 14, 2022 Image credit: Getty Images

Dortmund’s inconsistency at the end of 2021 could have proved to be their downfall, but Marco Rose’s side have responded in their last two fixtures. A dogged display last time out against Eintracht Frankfurt may have papered over the cracks but tonight, Dortmund were back to their best, and completely dominated a Freiburg side in 4th place.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Mahmoud Dahoud

It was a very difficult one to call as so many of the Dortmund team turned in outstanding performances, but the 26-year-old midfielder just edges it.

The central midfielder provided the all-important assist for Dortmund’s fourth goal, winning the ball back twice in a matter of seconds in the centre of the pitch before helping his side execute the turnover clinically. He threaded in Erling Haaland with a slick through ball to give his team-mate yet another brace in a Dortmund shirt.

Mahmoud Dahoud umringt von Erling Haaland und Thomas Meunier Image credit: Getty Images

He also got on the score sheet with a fantastic effort from just inside the box, which is his second goal in successive league games for his side.

In addition to his direct goal involvements, Dahoud made two key passes, and three successful tackles.

PLAYER RATINGS

Borussia Dortmund: Kobel 6, Meunier 9, Can 6, Hummels 7, Guerreiro 6, Bellingham 8, Dahoud 9, Brandt 8, Malen 7, Haaland 9, Reus 7. Subs: Akanji 6, Schulz 7, Wolf 6, Hazard 6, Witsel 6.

SC Freiburg: Uphoff 5, Kubler 5, Lienhart 5, Gulde 5, Gunter 6, Grifo 5, Hofler 6, Haberer 6, Sallai 7, Holer 6, Woo-Yeong 6. Subs: Weisshaupt 5, Schade 7, Keitel 6, Petersen 6, Demirovic 7.

KEY MOMENTS

29’ - GOAL! Meunier has a brace! Dortmund get three consecutive corners and strike with the third! The Belgian has an unlikely brace! Meunier is found by Brandt and fires in yet another header to double his side’s advantage!

45+1’ - GOAL! Bellingham does well again to win the ball and Dortmund break with a three-on-three situation. The Englishman plays in Haaland to his right, and the Norwegian’s two-game goal drought is over! He curls one in well into the bottom corner to give his side a comfortable cushion at half-time.

75’ - GOAL! Great play by Dahoud to nick the ball not once, but twice, before driving forward on the break. The midfielder plays in Erling Haaland, who does the rest and finishes well to get another brace for Dortmund! That’s his 15th league goal of the season!

KEY STATS

• Thomas Meunier is only the second player to score a brace following corner kicks for Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga (since det. data collection began in 2004-05). Previously, only Mats Hummels had managed to do so in October 2020 versus Bielefeld.

• Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last eight Bundesliga matches at home, previously only Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had managed such a scoring streak for Dortmund (11 home matches between 2015 and 2016).

• Erling Haaland is the scorer of Borussia Dortmund’s 2000th goal at home in the Bundesliga. Dortmund are only the second club to have reached that mark in the history of the competition after FC Bayern (2629).

Premier League Opinion: Man Utd need to act in the market if they don’t want to waste Rangnick’s time 13/01/2022 AT 16:22

Erling Haaland set to make decision on Dortmund future

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Borussia Dortmund stirker Erling Haaland says that he will make a decision on his future soon with the club putting pressure on him.

Barcelona chief’s clear message: “I will sign Erling Haaland this summer”

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The Erling Haaland to Barcelona saga continues with new rumors confirming the fact that Joan Laporta is one hundred percent ready to go all-in for the striker. It has been Laporta’s dream since the election days to sign Haaland. Back when he was running for the presidency, he mentioned two things, getting Haaland and keeping Lionel Messi at the club. He failed to keep Messi at the club due to unforeseeable circumstances. The La Liga salary cap was implemented after his election and with the new rules and regulations, he had no chances of extending Mess’s contract.

However, since he failed to keep one of his promises, he is making sure that he fulfills the second one. While Barca is in a very unstable financial position, the one thing that the club still has is its heritage. Barca is one of the two clubs where almost every player wants to play and even during such a crisis, it is still one of the clubs which can change a player’s life. To play for Barca or Real Madrid is an honor and Haaland himself has acknowledged that. He has stated that he wants to play for a La Liga side and that the Premier League is not his main objective.

Barcelona president is serious about signing Erling Haaland

(🌕) Although Laporta doesn’t publicly speak much about it, in private the message is clear: “I will sign Haaland this summer”. The intentions are 100%. Excluding money, Barça has to convince him & will have to do that through their project. More below. @Luis_F_Rojo #Transfers 🇳🇴 — Reshad Rahman ✆ (@ReshadRahman_) January 4, 2022

Laporta is also talking with Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola regularly in order to make sure that the deal goes their way. Apart from that, Barca enthusiast, Reshad Rahman has tweeted that Laporta is hell-bent on getting Haaland. It is the goal for the summer to get the striker at their club even if it means that the Catalans will have to spend a lot of the money that was meant for the Project Espai. The Catalans need a striker and Laporta will make sure that they get the best one on the planet.

Can Haaland be the striker Barca need?

Man City transfer round-up: Harry Kane update as ‘definitive’ Erling Haaland claim made

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Harry Kane is still reportedly keen to leave Tottenham Hotspur, while Pep Guardiola is said to have encouraged the club to make a “definitive effort” for Erling Haaland

As much as Manchester City have excelled without signing a centre-forward this season, there’s no doubt the majority of transfer buzz around the Etihad Stadium in upcoming windows will be in relation to the team’s attack.

Not only did the club opt against signing a direct replacement for club icon Sergio Aguero, they also sold Ferran Torres to Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola already has high-class options in the final third, but given there is no out-and-out goalscorer at the point of the attack the club will surely make a move for a different type of attacker at the end of the campaign.

Mirror Sport has all of your latest City transfer news and it’s no surprise to see key updates on two reported forward targets.

Would Haaland or Kane be the better signing for City in the summer? Let us know in the comments below!

Kane still wants out

Harry Kane is reportedly still keen on leaving Tottenham Hotspur.

Spurs made a high-profile managerial appointment in the form of Antonio Conte and many Tottenham fans would have been hopeful the Italian’s arrival would aid in keeping Kane happy in north London.

But according to the MailOnline , there is still a determination on Kane’s part to move on and Spurs will be under pressure to sell in the summer, when there is just two years left on his contract.

City tried and failed to sign the striker ahead of this season. However, given they have fared well without him, as well as Kane’s inconsistent form, City may not be keen to make as big an effort for the player in the future.

Guardiola wants ‘definitive effort’ for Haaland

According to AS (h/t Sport Witness ), Manchester City are set to scupper Real Madrid’s hopes of signing Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland.

In the report, it’s noted that Haaland would be keen on a move to Los Blancos. However, City are said to be in a position to offer the striker more in terms of wages following Guardiola’s “insistence” to sign the Norway international.

It’s reported Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola does not have a strong relationship with Guardiola and while he’s been on bad terms with Real Madrid previously, “harmony” has been established again as of late.

Madrid may be able to compete with City by freeing up space in their wage budget and Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo all look poised to leaved the club when their contracts run out in the summer.

City contact Vinicius representatives

According to El Nacional (h/t Football365 ), City have held talks with the agents of Real Madrid sensation Vinicius Jr.

The Brazilian is currently enjoying a breakthrough season, excelling alongside Karim Benzema in attack and lighting up La Liga with his electric wing play. Crucially, he already has 12 goals and four assists in the Spanish top flight this term.

Given Real Madrid have taken time to develop Vinicius, it would be a huge shock if they were open to any sale in the coming years.

Vinicius has a contract that runs until 2024 and if interest is emerging from juggernauts like City then they will surely move to agree fresh terms with the Brazilian sensation.