Real Madrid are considering a blockbuster move for Erling Haaland and are said to be at the top of their list of candidates should the Manchester City striker decide to shake up his front line and move on from Vinicius Junior.
According to a report in Sport, Madrid are tracking the 25-year-old Norwegian as a possible centerpiece for their next attacking cycle.
Interestingly, Haaland and his agent are said to have not closed the door on a future move to the Bernabeu, despite recently signing a nine-and-a-half year contract with the Etihad until 2034.
Erling Haaland will change Real Madrid
Haaland is the absolute No. 9 who guarantees goals at an historic rate. His instincts in the penalty box, aerial dominance and explosiveness will give Los Blancos a real reference point in midfield.
They already have Kylian Mbappé in the team, who has led the attack very well this season, but that hasn’t stopped them from pursuing the Man City star.
For a club whose season counts on Champions League appearances and La Liga titles, signing a striker of Haaland’s pedigree would be a statement of both sporting ambition and financial strength.
This potential move is partly linked to the uncertainty surrounding Vinicius Junior’s future. He remains one of the most dangerous wide forwards in world football, but speculation continues over his role and long-term fit, prompting Madrid to gameplan a different configuration of their front three.
Should the club go for a wideout reset, pivoting to a high-scoring central striker like Haaland would be an attractive counterbalance.
Real Madrid will have to make a record offer for Haaland
In such a scenario, Madrid could rebuild around their traditional axis of an elite number nine supported by high-work rate wide players and midfield runners.
Of course, there are significant hurdles. Man City are under no pressure to sell a generational forward tied to an unusually long-term contract.
The transfer fees, salary packages and sporting guarantees needed to attract both clubs and players are likely to push the limits of Madrid’s resources.
Madrid are witnessing a once-in-a-generation finisher worthy of their eternal mission to assemble the game’s brightest stars. City have the leverage of long-term contracts and retain players who are central to their project.
Ready to pay €100m to win transfer battle with Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United