Manchester City eye 18 year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet as Erling Haaland replacement | OneFootball

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City Xtra

·31 March 2023

Manchester City eye 18 year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet as Erling Haaland replacement

Article image:Manchester City eye 18 year-old Borussia Dortmund starlet as Erling Haaland replacement

Pep Guardiola has his eyes set on Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko as the replacement for Erling Haaland, a new report has sensationally claimed.

Rumours of a future Haaland exit and not being Pep Guardiola’s ideal signing at striker comes amid a remarkable run of goalscoring form for the Norway international since joining Manchester City last summer.


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Across all competitions so far this season, Erling Haaland has registered a total of 37 appearances, scoring a hugely impressive 42 goals and offering a further five assists for his City teammates.

Those figures have put Haaland firmly in the driving seat for the Premier League’s Golden Boot award, as well as a number of other accolades and records across European football.

However, despite that success, a rather incredible claim from one outlet has suggested that 18 year-old Borussia Dortmund forward Youssoufa Moukoko is being lined up as Erling Haaland’s replacement at the Etihad Stadium already.

That is according to journalist Steve Kay reporting for Football Transfers, who quotes a source close to the situation, claiming that Pep Guardiola already has his eye on Haaland’s former teammate at Dortmund.

The source claims, “Manchester City have been watching Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko for over a year now. Pep (Guardiola) is looking at him as the long-term replacement for Erling Haaland who is not looked upon by Guardiola as the long-term future of the club.”

In a staggering suggestion, it is claimed that Erling Haaland was not a signing driven by the Manchester City manager, with sporting director Txiki Begiristain viewing the player as a financial opportunity not to be missed out on given the ‘gigantic profits’ that are pending.

“I’m being told Haaland wasn’t a Pep signing and that Txiki Begiristain was the driving force behind bringing Haaland to Manchester,” continued the source to Football Transfers.

“With Haaland, an understanding was made that he would be sold In a few years earning City a gigantic profit. City paid £51.2 million for him and the plan is to sell him in a few years for close to £200 million, with Moukoko seen by Pep as the perfect replacement to fit the system he likes to play.

“Pep Guardiola likens Moukoko to players like Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

“Finally on Haaland’s contract: it runs out in 2027, and the word is he will sign a new contract extending it until 2028 with wages of 500,000 a week. His new contract will value him at around £240 million.

“I’m also told that the reason why Haaland didn’t go to Real Madrid was because they thought they were getting (Kylian) Mbappe. All roads look to me like Erling will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later.”

While many supporters will find such a development incredibly hard to believe given the happiness from all camps in the performances of Erling Haaland thus far, City are expected to negotiate with Borussia Dortmund this summer.

That will however concern England international Jude Bellingham, with the player viewed by the reigning Premier League champions as the number one priority for a central midfield signing this summer.

City remain uncertain over the futures of Bernardo Silva and club captain Ilkay Gundogan, with the former expected to target a move away from the club once again, while the Germany international is showing no signs of entertaining a new contract with his existing deal expiring this summer.

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