Spurs' Jekyll and Hyde act shows Man City should not be distracted from Erling Haaland pursuit

Manchester City have been linked with Erling Haaland for months now, but if the latest reports coming out of Spain are anything to go by, they may actually now be in pole position to sign to Borussia Dortmund striker.

According to Spanish outlet SER Deportivos, Real Madrid - long touted as the next destination for Haaland - believe that the 21-year-old will choose to join City instead. That is mainly because Los Blancos will sign Kylian Mbappe as a free agent this summer and cannot afford to take on both wages during the same window. They want him to stay at Dortmund for another year and then move to the Bernabeu but believe City will prove too good an option to resist.

However, as was seen in City's chaotic 3-2 defeat to Tottenham last weekend, Harry Kane would also fit right in at the Etihad Stadium. But which would suit Pep Guardiola's side best?

Erling Haaland

The pros to signing Haaland are obvious; he scores goals and plenty of them. Since joining Dortmund in January 2020, the Norwegian striker has scored 80 goals in 79 games, a phenomenal return for any player, never mind one who is still just 21 years old.

There are few attackers in the world - if any - who can claim to be as lethal and reliable in front of goal, two qualities that Guardiola's largely brilliant City are perhaps slightly lacking.

Haaland also has age on his side. By the start of next season, he'll be 22, meaning that he will have at least eight years at the top of the game, probably even more. If City were to meet his relatively modest release clause of £64m, it would be an investment for now and the future.

However, there are a few concerns and unknowns to consider.

Haaland is clearly an elite striker, but he is the focal point of a more direct