Premier League title race: Man City maintain healthy lead at top
Manchester City still intend to rival Real Madrid for Erling Haaland in the summer despite signing Julian Alvarez in January. Haaland is the most in-demand striker in world football and a bidding war is likely to commence in the summer.
City lead the Premier League despite Pep Guardiola not using a recognised No 9 all season.
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Kevin de Bruyne and Phil Foden have all led the attack instead.
The reigning champions attempted to address that issue in the winter window with the arrival of the exciting Argentine Alvarez.
Alvarez, 22, will join from River Plate in the summer after completing a £15m switch. He has been loaned back to his former club for the remainder of the campaign.
Man City will reportedly still target Erling Haaland despite their Julian Alvarez transfer (Image: GETTY)
But City’s acquisition of the Argentina international will not hinder their attempts to sign Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.
The signing will not prevent the Etihad Stadium hierarchy from pursuing a big-name forward in the summer, namely Haaland, The Athletic claim.
Haaland is wanted by all Europe’s biggest clubs and City are aware that the prolific Norwegian prefers a move to Real Madrid, the report continues.
The 21-year-old has scored a staggering 80 goals in only 79 appearances since joining Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in January 2020. Those strikes include 16 Bundesliga goals this season.
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A bidding war for the Leeds-born striker is likely to commence, with Haaland having a widely reported clause in his contract which allows him to leave for around £65m in the off-season.
Haaland’s relationship with Dortmund has recently become tense. The striker conducted a blockbuster interview in early January in which he implied that pressure to make a decision over his future was being applied by the German outfit.
"That's what [Dortmund] want and it means that things are going to start happening,” he told Sky Sports.
“I have said from the beginning that I just wanted to focus on playing and thus give my best version.