Erling Braut Haaland is reportedly on the verge of sealing a summer switch to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund.
Speculation surrounding the 21-year-old's future has been rife for the past couple of years as he goes from strength to strength at the Westfalenstadion since his arrival from Red Bull Salzburg in 2020.
Haaland was persistently linked with a move elsewhere last summer, but Dortmund's reported £150m valuation of the Norway international deterred suitors.
However, a £63m release clause in Haaland's contract is set to activate at the end of the season, and numerous European clubs have been tipped to battle for his signature, including Barcelona, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
Man City and Real Madrid are now thought to be Haaland's two realistic destinations, although Los Blancos are still prioritising a move for Kylian Mbappe.
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As a result, Sky Deutschland claims that Haaland is now on the brink of completing a move to the Etihad Stadium, and Citizens CEO Ferran Soriano has informed Dortmund of the club's intention to trigger the release clause.
The report adds that the release clause will have to be paid in full in a single payment, and City may be ready to announce Haaland's arrival later this week after agreeing personal terms with the forward.
The striker has struggled with injuries this season but has still amassed 28 goals and eight assists from 29 appearances in all competitions, including 21 strikes in the Bundesliga.
Only Patrik Schick and Robert Lewandowski have netted more in the German top flight this season, and Haaland was fit enough to play 86 minutes in the weekend's win over Greuther Furth after recovering from illness.
The Norway international has now amassed 85 goals and 23 assists in 88 games in total for Dortmund over the past two years and will seemingly play his final game for the Black and Yellow in Saturday's clash with Hertha Berlin.
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Haaland will follow in the footsteps of his father Alf-Inge Haaland in pulling on the sky blue shirt, and the former Man City man is said to have been a driving force in his son's move to the Etihad.
The former Molde youngster was represented by the late Mino Raiola, but the agent's recent death at the age of 54 has seemingly not led to a delay in negotiations.
City's move for Haaland ends Pep Guardiola's long wait for a Sergio Aguero successor, with the Catalan coach utilising a number of players in the central role throughout the season.
Gabriel Jesus has hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks, but the Brazilian is being tipped to leave ahead of Haaland's arrival, with Arsenal supposedly holding a strong interest.
Dortmund are already believed to have identified a replacement for the departing Haaland in the form of Karim Adeyemi - another Salzburg striker who has starred domestically and continentally this season.
The 20-year-old boasts 23 goals in all competitions for the Austrian champions this season and has supposedly snubbed interest from Manchester United and Liverpool to sign a five-year deal with Dortmund.
Ben Knapton
