Why Man City’s move for Erling Haaland is their boldest statement yet

A littler more than 20 years ago, Manchester City were playing in the second tier of English football beating the likes of Gillingham and Portsmouth, having been relegated the season prior. Fast forward to 2022 and the picture is very different. Five-time Premier League winners and with a whole host of domestic cups to match, City are now a global name and have become one of Europe’s biggest powerhouse clubs.

With decade of unprecedented success on the pitch, and more likely to come this season, the club are in the process of making their biggest statement yet. It has been widely reported that City will trigger Erling Haaland’s £63 million release clause, with the Borussia Dortmund striker keen to join the Premier League champions on a record-breaking five-year deal.

So, what's new? City are well known for their big spending when it comes to recruitment, so why is this move any different? Firstly, you have to consider the profile of Haaland, along with his reputation and the demand there is for him.

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The Norwegian striker has proved to be a goal machine ever since he burst onto the scene with RB Salzburg in the Champions League two seasons ago, scoring 131 career goals to date. This total includes a frankly remarkable 85 goals in 87 appearances for current club Dortmund.

Such goalscoring prowess has seen Haaland win individual accolades, like the coveted 2020 Golden Boy award, and has made the 21-year-old perhaps the most sought-after player in world football. For City to both chase and succeed in a transfer of such proportions is a first for the club despite recent successes.

According to several reports, the Premier League club have gone head to head with Spanish giants