Erling Haaland’s next move – Join Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man City? Stay at Dortmund?

What’s next for Erling Haaland? After a weekend in which the 21-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker told Viaplay that he felt pressured by his club to “make a decision soon” over his future, there is every chance that one of the best players in the world will be on the move in the coming months.

The Norway international is one of the most sought-after players in world football after scoring 79 goals in 78 appearances since moving to Dortmund from FC Salzburg for €20 million in 2019. Every top club in Europe wants to sign him and, with a reported release clause of €75m set to come into effect in 2022, clubs are circling to agree a deal with his agent, Mino Raiola, and father, Alf-Inge. So what are his possible destinations?

First, we asked ESPN’s resident scout for his thoughts on Haaland’s next club.

My money would be on Real Madrid, but I’d like to see him at Manchester City. For that to happen there might have to be a shift in Pep Guardiola’s way of looking at centre-forwards and in the club’s approach to the transfer market. While Guardiola tends to prefer technically gifted strikers who excel at combinations, Haaland would give City a more direct threat. He is someone who naturally moves into space, while this City side tend to provide a lot of service but often lack the presence of an expert poacher.

Guardiola’s team are successful at creating chances through cut-backs from the wingers and Haaland scores most of his goals from those kinds of situations. One can be a bit deceived by Haaland’s size and power. Yes, those are important qualities, but essentially he’s a brilliant finisher who likes to lurk in the penalty area.

Being quite an emotional player, I also think Haaland would thrive more in the Premier League than he would in Spain. He tends to respond to the crowd and raise his game on the big occasions. With the exception of the few top games, the atmosphere can feel a bit routine at LaLiga fixtures, especially at the Bernabeu where the crowds…