Manchester City could face a stumbling block in their attempts to sign Erling Haaland, according to reports.
Having missed out on a deal for Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane earlier this year, the Citizens are expected to spend big on a new centre-forward ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Borussia Dortmund’s striker 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.
The Norwegian has become one of the most sought-after players in the transfer market since making his breakthrough at Red Bull Salzburg a couple of years ago.
Haaland, who remains under contract with the Black and Yellow until 2024, has already netted 19 goals in 15 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, who are bracing themselves for a battle to attract the services of the Dortmund talisman with a saga brewing ahead of the summer transfer window.
Earlier this week, the forward’s agent Mino Raiola named Man City, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as potential suitors for the striker.
“He can and will take the next step,” he told Sport1. “Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City – these are the big clubs he can go to.
“City has won the championship five times in recent years, significantly more than United. When we moved to Dortmund, we all knew that this step would come.”
However, According to Spanish outlet Sport, Barcelona are preparing a move for the striker and whilst Manchester City hold an interest they “won’t break the bank or their wage structure to do so” posing an obstacle in their pursuit.
Even though Guardiola had refused to comment on Haaland rumours during a recent press conference, previous reports stated that City were not put off by a £47m agent fee for Raiola in a deal for the Dortmund man.
