Erling Haaland, who no longer has angel hair, is the subject of interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs after Manchester City received its ruling in the biggest cheating case of all time.
Clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain have been on the ball for a long time and are ready to pay what it takes to secure the Norwegian superstar, but Leeds, who have one of the smallest budgets in the Premier League to be relevant, seems very unlikely, but it is allowed to dream…
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The strongest card, if anything, is the fact that Erling Braut Haaland was born in Leeds.
Leeds United could be on the hunt for a new striker next summer, and what is now happening at Premier League giants Manchester City is causing a minority of West Yorkshire supporters to start thinking the unthinkable.
Manchester City are awaiting an appeal, and the club maintains its innocence despite being found guilty of 114 out of 115 charges from the Premier League. The club will present what it calls “irrefutable evidence” in an attempt to have the decision overturned.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur could all take legal action against Cityzens if the guilty verdict stands. Leeds United don’t have that option, but can they try to profit from the situation in an ambitious way?
Leeds United fans dream big about Manchester City transfer
On Tuesday morning, a Leeds United supporter poked his head out on social media and wondered… “do we have a chance with Erling Haaland?”
It was an unthinkable claim, but there is an ambitious method behind the madness. Man City’s big star may be Norwegian, but he was born in Leeds thanks to his father being former Whites star Alfie Haaland.
The striker grew up with a fondness for Leeds United and owned an Eirik Bakke shirt as a youngster. Haaland has even once told FourFourTwo that he dreamed of winning the Champions League with the club.
He added:
“That would be a really nice dream… My dad played for different Premier League teams, so of course you become a fan. You support them because you support your dad.”
In response to the bold message, one Whites supporter called the thought “comical” and another said “in 2036 maybe”. At the same time, one Leeds United supporter wrote: “Not with DCL in this form, but Haaland as a substitute for the last twenty minutes or so, maybe.”
Daniel Farke could soon be on the hunt for a new striker, as Lukas Nmecha has yet to be offered a new contract and Calvert-Lewin is starting to get older – but a transfer for Haaland will certainly be out of his reach, even if Man City were to be weighed down by financial penalties.
Does Erling Haaland have a relegation clause in his Manchester City contract?
The Premier League has yet to confirm what penalties Manchester City will receive, but a record-breaking points deduction is expected for the violations. It will very likely send the club down to the EFL.
A fall from grace and a need to raise funds to pay any fines will inevitably lead to top players leaving the club – it’s hard to imagine a world where Haaland doesn’t play Champions League football. “And that’s part of Leeds’ problem, last season Leeds landed in the bottom half of the table and are not qualified this year as well, the gap looks too big.
The striker renewed his contract with Man City in January 2025 and extended his time at the Etihad Stadium until 2034. There are no buyout clauses in that deal.
Marca also claims that there is no relegation clause in Haaland’s contract. While the club is unlikely to be able to afford his high salary, the player is not expected to have a contractual right to demand that a departure from the club be approved.
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