Manchester City have held talks with Mino Raiola about the prospect of signing Borussia Dortmund hitman Erling Haaland, according to reports.
Pep Guardiola’s side are in the market for a new striker having failed to replace City legend Segio Aguero with Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane last summer.
In the days before the Citizens’ 3-2 home defeat to Spurs, the City manager revealed they had four bids rejected for the England captain last summer.
But now, City are believed to have turned their attention to Haaland, thanks to his summer buyout clause of around £64million.
And it is believed Haaland’s agent Raiola has already met with City director Txiki Begiristain.
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According to Fabrizio Romano, Raiola has already met with several clubs that include the current Premier League table toppers.
Raiola is also believed to have also already held discussions with Barcelona, while Real Madrid are understood to still be in the hunt for the imperious 21-year-old.
Haaland has scored 23 goals and contributed six assists in just 20 appearances for Marco Rose’s side this season.
Unfortunately for the Bundesliga giants, they will likely be waving goodbye to another superstar as all of Europe’s giants are coveting the former RB Salzburg striker.
While they are not believed to have given up hope on retaining Haaland, it will be very challenging for the Germans to hang onto their prised striker.
And Raiola emphasised their future transfer struggles, stating a large number of clubs are interested in signing him.
"Maybe this summer, maybe the summer after. But there is a big chance that Erling will leave this summer. We will see,” Raiola said to Sport1, via Sky Sports News, in December.
"He can and will take the next step. Bayern, Real, Barcelona, City - these are the big clubs he can go to. City have won the championship five times in the last few years, much more than United.
"We all knew when we moved to Dortmund that this step would come."
Despite their extraordinary financial struggles at the start of the season, returning Barcelona president Joan Laporta proclaimed the Catalans ‘are back’ as big players in the transfer market.
Barcelona were not able to commit Lionel Messi to a new contract last summer after they found themselves encroaching on strict La Liga salary regulations.
However, the club appear to be in a process of recovery under Xavi, completing the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres, and Adama Traore, and breaking into the top four in La Liga.
And at the start of January, Laporta proclaimed the club will be back in the race for Europe’s top players, when asked about the prospect of signing Haaland.
"We're working on the summer window. Everything is possible if it's done well,” Laporta said during Torres’ unveiling.
“I am sure things will go well. Barcelona are still a reference. Every player considers the possibility of coming here.
"We still have our status in the transfer market. Everyone can get ready because Barca are back; the arrival of Ferran shows that.
“We're a reference. Barca's resurgence is a reality and the football world has realised that."
