Manchester City target Erling Haaland has travelled to Monaco to meet with agent Mino Raiola as speculation over the striker's future continues to mount.
City have reportedly agreed terms with the Norwegian striker, but a deal is still not official. The former Red Bull Salzburg hotshot has a release clause of around £68m in his Dortmund contract which, according to reports in Germany, needs to be met by April 30.
The interest in the 21-year-old comes off the back of another impressive season in front of goal. His 25 in 27 outings this term mean he's up to 82 in 86 games since joining Dortmund from the Austrian champions.
According to Ruhr Nachrichten (via Sport ), Haaland made a quick the trip to the French Riviera after Dortmund's weekend defeat at Bayern Munich. The result ensured Bayern won the league title for the 10th successive season, though Haaland's side are on the cusp of locking up second place.
The same reports suggest the timing of the trip had been determined before the defeat, and may have been related to the release clause situation. Sport also notes that it's not the first such trip the player has embarked on.
While City are the overwhelming favourites to wrap up a deal for Haaland, Barcelona have also been linked. He won't be off to Bayern, though, with the champions' sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirming as much and making reference to 33-goal top scorer Robert Lewandowski.
"It doesn't make any sense," the Bosnian told Sky90. "We have the best striker in the world. We have Lewa."
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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola refused to comment on suggestions a deal for the Norway international has already been wrapped up. "I don't have the concern or this business in my head right now to think about what is going to happen in this club next season," the Catalan said when quizzed on the subject ahead of City's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.
However, the Manchester club's style has brought questions about how a player like Haaland might fit in. Former England striker Rickie Lambert recognised Guardiola's preference for playing without an orthodox striker this term, having seen a move for Harry Kane fail to materialise, and suggested a failure to adjust to a new setup immediately could give City's title rivals a slight upper hand.
"I think the way City play, I'm not too sure a big centre-forward will be good for them," Lambert told talkSPORT.. It might take them a while to get used to a new way of playing with them. I think it might disrupt them a little bit."
