Entire article relating to City:
It was widely predicted that Erling Haaland would find himself subject to one of the most eagerly-awaited transfers in many years this summer and — barring any late and unforeseen hitches — it is thought an official announcement regarding his next destination is on the brink of being made.
Sources in Germany have told The Athletic that the prolific Norway striker’s proposed move from
Borussia Dortmund to
Manchester City is now a “done deal”, and should be confirmed this week.
Initial personal terms between the current
Premier League leaders and Haaland were agreed last month after the 21-year-old gave his approval to the switch. That part of the matter is said to be complete.
This cleared the way for recent dialogue between the clubs, which it is thought Dortmund deem to have been cordial, and the
Bundesliga side are believed to anticipate notification from City in the days ahead that they will pay the fee required to activate the release clause in Haaland’s contract.
If the situation proceeds as expected, the
Leeds-born forward will become a City player in due course and start with his new employers when they begin their preparations for the 2022-23 campaign.
Haaland, son of former Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and City midfielder Alf-Inge Haaland, began his career at Bryne and Molde in Norway, then spent a year with Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg before joining Dortmund in January 2020.
He has scored 85 goals in 88 appearances there, and despite interest from the likes of
Real Madrid,
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, the reigning English champions and current leaders are on track to sign one of the hottest properties in world football.
Pogba turns down Manchester City
When reports emerged on Friday that Manchester City were considering signing
Paul Pogba as a free agent after he leaves
Manchester United next month, it raised the idea of a remarkable switch between local rivals.
It was an opportunity in an area of the pitch that Pep Guardiola is looking to strengthen amid 37-year-old
Fernandinho’s expected departure once the season ends, with Pogba a genuine candidate.
But The Athletic can reveal that this potential switch is not going to happen after the 29-year-old midfielder opted against joining City, instead favouring the whole package offered by another club.
Despite Pogba’s affiliation with United — his six-year second spell there, making eight altogether, will finish when his contract expires in the coming weeks — the 2018 World Cup winner is understood to have received a flattering proposal from City and gave serious contemplation to the five-time Premier League champions.
However, Pogba’s representatives are believed to have informed City that the France international is to continue his career at a different team. Former club
Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are thought to be the most likely destinations at present, although a final decision is yet to be made.
Pogba started out at Le Havre in his homeland, then spent two years with United before heading to Italian side Juventus as a free agent in 2012 at age 19. He returned to Old Trafford four years later for a then-world record £89 million, but the subsequent period has not proved as successful as hoped and he is set to exit for nothing at the conclusion of the campaign.