Man City boost in Erling Haaland transfer race as father ‘wants son to join Pep Guardiola’s side’

Erling Braut Haaland‘s father has urged his son to join Manchester City in the summer transfer window, according to a report.

The Norwegian marksman has been widely tipped to seek a new challenge elsewhere ahead of next season, with Manchester City joining a whole host of top clubs with a shared interest in securing his signature.

Having missed out on a deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane earlier this year, the Norwegian goal machine is reportedly next Pep Guardiola’s ‘primary striker target’ as he looks for a new No 9 after the departure of Sergio Aguero last summer.

City may well have signed the very promising Julian Alvarez on deadline day of the January transfer window, but that deal has far from satisfied the Blues’ appetite for a new elite striker.

Haaland, who remains under contract with the Black and Yellow until 2024, has already netted 23 goals in 20 appearances for Dortmund this term despite injury concerns.

Such remarkable progress in Germany has invariably put the Norwegian goal machine on the radars of many European football clubs, with Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid among his suitors.

According to Football Insider, City are leading the chase for the 21-year-old thanks to his father, former City player Alf Inge Haaland.

The 49-year-old, who spent three years in Manchester, has urged his son to join the Premier League champions ahead of other potential suitors according to the report.

The report continues with City’s lead in the race for Haaland though, due to the Norwegian’s huge contract demands that they are capable of meeting.

Erling has been pictured wearing City kit as a child, so the club is significant to the family. Whether it’s enough to beat out Real Madrid remains to be seen, but it’s great news for the Premier League leaders that his father is trying to persuade him to go to England.