Real Madrid are already plotting an audacious move for Erling Haaland in the wake of the Norwegian international's stunning start to life at Manchester City, a new report has claimed.
A whole host of European heavyweights courted Haaland during his prolific stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he plundered 86 goals in 89 games, but it was City who clinched the 22-year-old's signature in the summer after activating a £51million release clause in Haaland's contract.
And now Real Madrid are planning to replicate that move by pinching the sought-after striker when a similar clause in Haaland's Manchester City deal comes into effect in 2024.
That is according to El Chiringuito TV, who claim that Haaland will be available for €200m (£174m) in two years time. However, Manchester City are determined not to lose their new talisman and are working hard to extinguish any hope Los Blancos may have of pinching the prolific striker.
Mundo Deportivo have revealed that the reigning Premier League champions are 'already working on a new deal' for Haaland in the wake of his stunning start to life in England.
Haaland has notched an incredible 17 goals in 11 games for Pep Guardiola's side since making his bow back in August. The former Dortmund star has chalked up hat-tricks in three consecutive home league matches and is already just nine goals shy of the 23 strikes that Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-Min bagged last year to share the Premier League's Golden Boot award.
Given that any new deal would eradicate a release clause, and that Haaland only penned a five-year deal worth £375,000-per-week in the summer, it is likely that Manchester City would have to make Haaland their top earner to persuade him to shun Real's advances.
Haaland was lauded by Guardiola following his irrepressible display in Sunday's Manchester derby. As well as his latest three-goal haul, Haaland also grabbed two assists to inspire City to a stunning 6-3 win over Manchester United.
And Guardiola, who has worked with a host of Europe's greatest players during his illustrious career, declared that "no one can compete" with how good the striker is at this age.
After Haaland's two-goal debut against West Ham on the opening day of the season, Guardiola even tipped the striker to eclipse the goalscoring feats of Lionel Messi, who he worked closely with during his trophy-laden stint at Barcelona.
The City chief said back in August: "[Haaland] can be a better player [than Messi is], he can have the will to do it. He likes football, I have never seen a player who is 21 or 22 years old - maybe Messi he was already advanced - but the rest are never finished and always you can improve."
Source: m.allfootballapp.com