Erling Haaland is said to be considering his future with Premier League champions Manchester City after a dismal season at the Etihad.
The Norwegian has bagged 30 goals in 40 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team this campaign, but the team is still well in the battle for Champions League football next season.
The Cityzens have been disappointing following their fourth successive Premier League trophy last season, despite the best efforts of Arsenal to stop them from lifting the trophy. Pep Guardiola already faces life without club icon Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract expires this summer and could join Lionel Messi and co at Inter Miami in the MLS.
However, reports now suggest that the Norwegian striker could force an exit from the team. Haaland committed his future to the club with a new contract earlier this season, but performances look to have left the forward disconcerted.
Manchester City’s poor title defence
While it is surprising to see the side perform so poorly, it is even more so, given that it is their title defence campaign. It is not unheard of to see teams perform poorly after winning a title; sides like the Leicester City title-winning side would spring to mind immediately. The Foxes did finish in the bottom half and are the only title defenders to do so, with teams such as Blackburn Rovers and Manchester United dropping to seventh after a title-winning campaign.
Throughout the season to date, Pep Guardiola’s team have dropped 16 points from winning positions. Scenarios like this have seen them fall from the top four to sixth place. Aston Villa lie one point behind them, with Newcastle United a point ahead and a game in hand over the side.
According to Football365, citing reports in Spain, Haaland has grown displeased with the season, including the early Champions League exit and Premier League position. That same report clarifies that while he has not publicly expressed these feelings, he is considering his future should the situation not improve.
European giants dream of Manchester City hitman
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are two sides mentioned as hopeful of a potential transfer of the Norwegian this summer. The German side is anxious about the future of England captain Harry Kane, who has been linked with a return to the Premier League this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain are still searching for a replacement for French superstar Kylian Mbappe after he joined Real Madrid last summer. Rumours have persistently spread over the years of Haaland one day playing in Spain, Madrid mentioned in particular, but any sign of that seems bleak at this point, with the side not linked currently.
Should they miss out on Champions League football next season, it would not be surprising to see the forward push for a move away from the Etihad. The squad will already be depleted by the departure of De Bruyne this summer, and progress could be hindered, especially considering the rise of clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United. A player of Haaland’s calibre would be expecting to perform at the highest level, and missing out on Champions League football could perhaps see his City career come to an end early.