Erling Haaland: Man City tipped to launch ‘unstoppable’ bid after update this week – pundit
Alan Hutton has tipped Manchester City to go all out to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund after Real Madrid reportedly pulled out the race.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Scotland defender claimed the 21-year-old could the “final piece of the puzzle” in City’s hunt to win the Champions League.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News on Tuesday (8 February), Real Madrid look set to pull out the race for Haaland this summer as they focus on signing Kylian Mbappe instead.
That would reportedly leave City as favourites for the Norway international’s capture, with Pep Guardiola said to be a long-term admirer.
Hutton suggested Haaland would score for fun with the wealth of creative and attacking talent at the Etihad Stadium.
He tipped City to push hard for his signing with Real seemingly out the running.
Asked if he thought City were now frontrunners, Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “It wouldn’t surprise me if they go for him.
“I mean, I think any club would jump at the chance of bringing him in, he’s just unstoppable. The goals he scores, can you imagine the goals he’d score for Man City with the way they play?
“They play that football where it’s lots of cutbacks and lots of balls across the box for your number nine to tap in. He would eat them up all day long.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they go for him with an unstoppable bid . They can afford it and it ticks all the boxes. He could be the final piece to the puzzle to the Champions League.
“You really thought they were going to go for Harry Kane, it didn’t quite work out.
“But they do need a number nine. I know they do like to play with a false nine and it still works for them.
“But I think if you look over previous seasons, they have always had that spearhead to come in.
“He ticks all the boxes, definitely. So it wouldn’t surprise me if they try and get him to the club.”
Haaland has scored 23 goals in 20 appearances for Dortmund this season.
Riyad Mahrez is City’s top scorer this term with 15 goals across all competitions.
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