Transfer Centre

Pep Guardiola responds to Erling Braut Haaland speculation

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 18 March 2022

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola responds to the latest transfer speculation surrounding Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Erling Braut Haaland.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has played down suggestions that his club are in prime position to sign Borussia Dortmund centre-forward Erling Braut Haaland.

The Norway international will be available for a fee in the region of £67m this summer due to a clause in his BVB contract, and Man City are believed to have overtaken Real Madrid to lead the race for his signature.

However, Guardiola has refused to be drawn on claims that a deal for the 21-year-old is close to being agreed.

"Since I'm here, every month we are going to sign 50 players. Right now, it's impossible I'm going to talk about some guys who aren't here, Haaland is a Dortmund player," Guardiola told reporters.

"You can ask for this player or another one. The transfer window is going to start and many things will happen. Maybe I speak about this club needs a striker for the next five, six, seven years maybe once in 12 months. I'm not going to be the guy with the success because we didn't have a striker."

Haaland has scored 23 times and registered six assists in 22 appearances for Dortmund this season, but the forward has had a number of fitness problems this term, failing to score in the Bundesliga since January 22.

Man City were strongly linked with Harry Kane during last summer's transfer window but were unable to come to an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur over a price for the England captain.