Man City lead the race for £132k-p/w marksman hailed by Van Dijk; Txiki is already in talks

As per Goal.com, Manchester City lead the race to sign Borussia Dortmund sensation Erling Haaland, with executives having held talks with the Norwegian’s representatives.

The 21-year-old has been at the centre of a chaotic transfer saga which has seen him linked with a number of European giants ahead of a proposed summer move.

Real Madrid are rumoured to be a strong contender in the race, but with the striker’s seemingly minimal £62m release clause, the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United all remain interested.

Pep Guardiola is reportedly keen to add a forward with a killer- instinct to his squad after failing to secure Tottenham’s Harry Kane last summer.

According to a fresh report by Goal.com, City have emerged as the frontrunners in the race to sign Haaland.

It is believed that Txiki Begiristain and fellow City executives have recently met with the Norwegian’s representatives over a proposed move, with the youngster currently earning a reported £132,000 per week.

With the money irrelevant due to his affordable release clause, Haaland’s choice will come down to personal preference, and it is claimed that a coach like Guardiola is a major selling point in his decision.

Whilst City have not struggled to score goals, as exemplified by their enormous goal difference, Haaland would be a fantastic addition to Guardiola’s side, given the Premier League champions’ lack of out-and-out centre-forward options.

The 21-year-old has netted 80 times in as many games for the German club, so that level of consistency will provide City with an attacking alternative to what we have become accustomed to seeing with the Catalan in charge.

Virgil van Dijk has supported this rhetoric, having likened the striker to