With Real Madrid still hunting for a long-term replacement for Karim Benzema, the name most linked is Manchester City's Erling Haaland. Many believe it's a slam dunk that the striker will end up at Real at some point in the future.
However, TEAMtalk reports that PSG have recently enquired about Haaland's long-term situation at City amid swirling transfer rumors. The French giants hope to jump to the front of the queue should his future plans change based on what the future holds for his manager, Pep Guardiola, who is out of contract in the summer of 2027.
Real Madrid have a new rival in Haaland race
Haaland has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid, and the Bernabeu remains his most likely destination, but he has also been linked with other clubs like Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Now, Luis Enrique's defending European champions are the latest to throw their name in the hat for the Norwegian.
The Parisians have been struggling in the stiker department with Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele past injury struggles returning and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia lacking on the goalscoring front. As a result, the French side is hoping to bring in a big-name number nine, the likes of which they've been lacking since the departures of Edinson Cavani and Kylian Mbappe.
However, despite the interest from the Sextuple winners, it's being reported that his preferred destination is still Spain, with Real still the leading suitor. Los Blancos' interest in Haaland dates back to his youth at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, but they opted not to sign him then, as Benzema was still firing on all cylinders.
Now that Benzema is gone and Real still in need of a true number nine in the attack, Haaland's time to arrive at the Bernabeu could come sooner rather than later. While Mbappe has been doing a sensational job playing in the middle, bagging 82 goals in 91 appearances, playing up front is not the Frenchman's natural position. If the club hopes to get back to being the unstoppable force in Europe, bringing in a proper striker is a top priority.
How much a move for the Norwegian will cost remains unknown, but it's probably an unfathomable number. Per Transfermarkt, Haaland is currently valued at €200 million, but City would no doubt ask for a fee that would trump Neymar's record €222 million fee. His current deal with the Premier League side runs until 2034, and it is unknown if it includes a release clause, so if Real Madrid hopes to team up Haaland and Mbappe together, they're going to have to open up their chequebook and put all the money on the table.