Pep Guardiola would not be drawn on Erling Haaland’s future amid reports that Manchester City have agreed personal terms with the prolific Borussia Dortmund star.
City are long-term admirers of Haaland, who is known to be their top target as they chase a new striker again this summer following last year’s departure of Sergio Aguero and the failed pursuit of Tottenham and England frontman Harry Kane.
Speculation over recent weeks suggested the reigning Premier League champions were moving closer to securing a blockbuster deal for a player who has a release clause at Dortmund worth around £63million.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Haaland had now given the green light to a move to the Etihad Stadium, with initial personal terms agreed but plenty of work still to be done including contract details and commission to the player’s representatives led by agent Mino Raiola.
Guardiola was inevitably quizzed on the latest news concerning Haaland during a press conference held before City’s Premier League clash with Brighton on Wednesday, though kept up his habit of not publicly commenting on transfer stories.
“No answer to your question,” he said of the latest reports.
Pressed again, Guardiola added: “No answer about these questions. I have another concern and business in my head right now (than) to think what will happen in this club next season.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Daily Mail reported that City had agreed to make Haaland - also chased by the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain - the highest-paid player in the Premier League on wages of around £500,000 a week. It was further claimed that a five-year deal could be confirmed as soon as next week.
Norwegian international Haaland, 21, is already one of football’s biggest global stars, having netted 82 goals in just 85 games since moving to Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020.
