Man City can offer Erling Haaland something Real Madrid can't to seal advantage in transfer race

Manchester 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.

City want to make Erling Haaland their second signing of 2022 when the summer window opens, although Pep Guardiola's side are expected to face serious competition from Real Madrid.

Over the past few months it has been widely reported that the Borussia Dortmund striker - who has scored a remarkable 23 goals in 20 games this season - favours a move to Spain, meaning that Txiki Begiristain could have his work cut out if City are to get their man.

However, upon closer inspection, it looks like City could actually be the frontrunners to secure the services of the 21-year-old phenomenon.

If Haaland decides to join City over Real Madrid, he will arrive knowing that he is the main man. The Norway international will walk straight into a settled squad that needs little work doing to it, and with no other strikers in the way - unless Alvarez arrives in July - he can assume starting duties more or less immediately.

Most attacking players need a year or two to adapt to Guardiola's tactics, but given Haaland's freakishly impressive technical and physical abilities, you wouldn't put it past him to hit the ground running.

Compare that to the situation he could face at the Santiago Bernabeu and you wonder whether Haaland really would prefer to go to Spain.

Karim Benzema is Real Madrid's undisputed star attacker and even at 34 years of age he's showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the French striker has been at his most prolific since turning 30, although that might have something to do with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018.