Real Madrid News
Real Madrid target Haaland approves Manchester City move
Erling Haaland has been one of Real Madrid’s prime transfer targets for the summer, alongside Kylian Mbappe. However, unlike the French international, whose move is almost finalised, the Borussia Dortmund player was stuck in a dilemma between two options.
Real Madrid and Manchester City had placed similar economic proposals on the table for the Norwegian. The only difference, however, was the sporting project.
According to reports from The Athletic, Haaland has given Manchester City the green light for his signing in what is a groundbreaking decision. Though the move is far from complete, it is the beginning of the end of Haaland’s transfer saga.
The move cannot be said to be completed until the player’s €75 million release clause is officially triggered. Moreover, the payment to Dortmund and the details of the contract are two steps that will take considerable time.
The English side are silent over any possible agreement with the player. When Pep Guardiola was recently asked about Haaland’s signing, he said, “No, answer to your question.”
Last week, it was revealed that the player’s agent and his father demanded close to €50 million as a commission for his signing. That was regarded as the factor stalling the transfer talks.
Though City were initially reluctant to pay the same, it seems that a middle ground has been reached between the two parties. The player’s personal preference has finally been revealed, but it would be foolish to write Real Madrid out of the race already.
Haaland has scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in just 17 league starts this season. He averages a key pass every ninety minutes and has been one of the best strikers in Europe this season, yet again.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
