Man City get Erling Haaland transfer boost from unlikely source after Borussia Dortmund disaster

Erling Haaland wasn't in the Borussia Dortmund squad who were shocked by Rangers on Thursday night, but he will be well aware of the implications of their early Europa League exit.

After a third-placed finish in their Champions League group this season, Dortmund were entered into a play-off for the Europa League knock-outs and paired with Scottish champions Rangers.

It wasn't the competition they wanted to be in, but it represented a chance of European silverware that others have used to build on and challenge for bigger titles.

But Dortmund clearly didn't expect the level that Rangers would bring to the tie, with former City coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst guiding the Scots to a hugely impressive 4-2 win last week at the Westfalenstadion, backed up by a 2-2 draw at Ibrox on Thursday to book Rangers' place in the last 16.

Dortmund must now focus on trying to make up the six points they trail Bayern Munich by in the Bundesliga, and securing qualification for next year's Champions League.

After the Rangers disaster, they may have to face up to the fact they will compete next season without Haaland.

Reports this week say City have made an approach to Haaland's camp over a summer move, although they would always deny that publicly.

They haven't hidden their desire for a striker, however, and Haaland surely ticks most of the boxes of what City want from a summer arrival.

Dortmund say they will speak with Haaland's camp in the next few weeks and haven't ruled out trying to keep their star man for at least another season. That is a task made harder after their failure to reach the proper knockout stages of both premier European competitions this season.

Haaland, currently out injured, will want to see evidence that Dortmund