Transfer Talk: Real boost for City and Chelsea in Haaland race

Manchester City and Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in the race to sign Erling Haaland.

Spanish giants Real Madrid have reportedly accepted the Norwegian is destined to move to the Premier League.

Haaland, 21, has a £64million release clause that comes into play at the end of the season.

And with Europe's biggest clubs all interested in signing him, Borussia Dortmund expect to lose their star striker.

But The Sun say the feeling at the Bernabeu is Haaland will likely end up playing English football.

Real are clear favourites to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expires next year. 

But their dream of pairing the two hottest young stars in football alongside each other in the Spanish capital appears to be over.

And that will be music to the ears of the bigwigs at the Etihad, Stamford Bridge and maybe even Old Trafford.

Like City and Chelsea, Manchester United have previously been linked with a move for Haaland.

Pep Guardiola heaped praise on the forward before the Citizens faced Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.

He said: "To score that number of goals at his age is not easy. The numbers speak for themselves.

"When that happens it’s because he can score with the right, the left, via counter-attacks, in the box. He’s a fantastic striker, everyone knows it."

Haaland has 13 goals in 10 games this season but has missed time with injuries and is expected to remain on the sidelines until next month, 

In other news

Manchester United and Barcelona are set to battle it out to sign RB Leipzig’s Spanish winger Dani Olmo, according to reports in Spain.

French outlet Foot Mercato believe Chelsea are at the front of the queue to snap up Leicester’s Wesley Fofana — but United are also interested in the centre-back.

Villarreal will have to fight to keep star winger Arnaut Danjuma, with Football Insider saying the ex-Bournemouth star is on Liverpool’s radar.