Erling Haaland transfer excitement could hand Man City advantage over Real Madrid in Champions League

There was a buzz on social media on Monday night as Tuesday's back pages were revealed a few hours early. It was the reports that Manchester City fans have been waiting for - that Erling Haaland is on his way to Manchester City.

The Mail are reporting that City have agreed personal terms for Haaland on a £500,000-per-week, five-year deal, and will trigger his £63million release clause with Borussia Dortmund in the next fortnight. Manchester Evening News understands the interest is real and the response from City fans was of understandable excitement that the most promising, prolific striker in the world is likely to be wearing Sky Blue again next summer. This time, it wouldn't be a replica kit.

Already, the counter reports are coming from Spain. Real Madrid have been City's only real competition for Haaland as other elite clubs have taken it in turns to drop out of the running. So the media covering Real are keen to keep the race alive for as long as possible.

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City are in pole position for Haaland, and whether it's next week, next month or later in the transfer window, expect them to be a key player in the race for the Norwegian. Dortmund said this week that no side has yet expressed interest in Haaland formally, so City would still have to go down that process and these things always take time.

However, if a move for Haaland is getting closer, it wouldn't be a transfer that boosts them for next season. It could also this season give City a Champions League advantage.

With Real Madrid up next in the semi-finals, City will be hoping for any edge they can get over the Champions League experts. The Blues knocked Real down a peg in