Report: Manchester City expect to battle Real Madrid for Haaland transfer

Manchester City have placed Erling Haaland atop of their list of potential Sergio Aguero replacements and anticipate strong competition from Real Madrid for his signature, according to The Telegraph's Mike McGrath.

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to pay a club-record fee for the Borussia Dortmund marksman, but City apparently expect Real Madrid to make the first significant move to sign Haaland this summer.

Haaland, 20, is widely reported to be available for £68 million in 15 months due to a release clause in his Dortmund contract, but a higher offer could put his club under pressure to sell in the next transfer window. McGrath describes the battle to sign Haaland as a "£100-million race."

The Norwegian - whose father, Alf-Inge Haaland, captained Manchester City - has regularly smashed goal-scoring records since boosting his reputation with Red Bull Salzburg during the 2019-20 Champions League group stage. He's tallied 20 goals in Europe's flagship competition quicker than any other player, and he's notched an incredible 34 goals in 36 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund after joining them at the end of 2019.

Haaland has also scored six times in seven international outings for Norway ahead of the national team's upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Gibraltar, Turkey, and Montenegro.

Aguero, whom Haaland could replace at Manchester City, is the club's all-time leading scorer and famously notched the dramatic title-winning strike against Queens Park Rangers in 2012. But the 32-year-old Argentine has struggled to win back his place in Pep Guardiola's starting XI since overcoming a spate of injuries.