KEY POINTS

  • Erling Haaland has a release clause of $85 million
  • It will get activated in the summer of 2022
  • City want Haaland as Aguero's replacement

Manchester City are reportedly gearing up to beat Premier League rivals Manchester United in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland next summer.

City are "ready" to pay Haaland’s release clause of $85 million, which will be activated in the summer of 2022, reported German publication BILD.

As Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola recently confirmed that his client is set to leave Dortmund at the end of the 2021-22 season, the young player has been heavily linked with quite a few top European clubs.

Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has shortlisted five target players for the upcoming summer window and Haaland is one of them, according to Eurosport.

However, Haaland could be close to joining City because of his father Alf-Inge, who played for them between 2000 and 2003.

Pep Guardiola has been without a true striker since the departure of Sergio Aguero. The Etihad boss has been playing Phil Foden as a false No. 9 and has so far tasted success. Foden has scored six goals and as many assists in 18 competitive games, and the strategy has also brought the best out of Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.

However, Guardiola is aware that he still needs a solid striker if he wants to win the Champions League with City and Haaland is the best solution for it at present.

Haaland has also been linked with FC Barcelona, who like City, are looking for a striker. However, it was earlier reported that Barcelona may withdraw from the race to sign Haaland because of a condition from Raiola.

Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund reacts following their sides victory after the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SpVgg Greuther Fürth at Signal Iduna Park on December 15, 2021 in Dortmund, Germany. Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images

The Italian soccer agent met with Barcelona chief Joan Laporte earlier this month and offered a chance to sign Haaland only if the Catalans would sign three other clients of him -- Manchester United’s Paul Pogba, Paris Saint Germain (PSG) midfielder Xavi Simons and Ajax defender Noussair Mazraoui.

Barcelona have made it clear that they do not want to sign Pogba because of his high demand for wages and the agent commissions that would imply in this case.

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