Manchester City have confirmed an agreement to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund when the transfer window opens this summer, subject to the formality of personal terms.
The initial fee will be around £55m, lower then previously expected as for months his release clause was reported to be over £60m.
90min understands that the five-year deal Haaland will sign will pay less than current top earner Kevin De Bruyne, though bonuses will take him up towards that level.
So what does this mean for the world of football?
Well, it likely means Manchester City - the club who have spent over £1bn over the last decade in an attempt to win the Champions League - will somehow be even better than they already are, given they now have a proper centre forward to replace the long departed Sergio Aguero.
It also spells disaster for pretty much any other club (in England, anyway) apart from Liverpool, with the gulf in quality there for all to see during the 2021/22 season.
So how did the news of Haaland agreement go down on Twitter? Well, as you can imagine, pretty well with most...
Manchester City have confirmed an agreement to sign Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund! ? pic.twitter.com/zWJIBvxHIc
— 90min (@90min_Football) May 10, 2022
I'm still in shock we're getting Haaland. This is big. Huge.
— Lewis Brown (@lts_LB) May 10, 2022
One of the elites wants to come to City.
This our biggest ever signing.
Curious about Haaland. Great for City to get a bona-fide superstar with links to the club. Gets to work under era-defining coach and yet… can just as easily see EBH scoring 30-40 goals a season as him, sat on the bench, wondering why a midfielder is playing No.9. Again.
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) May 10, 2022
I will not put Haaland in my FPL team for the first game of the season.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) May 10, 2022
I will not put Haaland in my FPL team for the first game of the season.
I will not put Haaland in my FPL team for the first game of the season.
I will not put Haaland in my FPL team for the first game of th-
64 - Erling Haaland has the best minutes per goal ratio in UEFA Champions League history, scoring every 64 minutes on average (min. 15 goals):
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 10, 2022
64 - Erling Haaland
102 - Mario Gomez
102 - Roberto Soldado
104 - Lionel Messi
104 - Harry Kane
Jigsaw. pic.twitter.com/0jpfaFGdAu
Last summer £100+m for Kane talks. Could have been similar with Haaland.
— Mike Minay (@MikeMinay) May 10, 2022
Wait a year. Top of the Premier League still. And could have a striker for just over £50m.
Cracking business. Great patience. #ManCity #MCFC
Erling Haaland, Borussia Dortmund:
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) May 10, 2022
◾️ 88 Apps
◾️ 85 Goals
◾️ 23 Assists
◾️ 65.9 Mins Per Goal Contribution
Next up: ?????????? ????. pic.twitter.com/ABfEAMcD6m
Whilst Erling Haaland isn’t guaranteed to be a success at Manchester City, the thought of such a prolific finisher being there for the bundles of chances City create on a weekly basis is a terrifying prospect. The service he’ll get there will be a par with The Ritz.
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) May 10, 2022
Excitement from those of a City persuasion, curiosity among journalists and an indication of the sheer magnitude of this deal.
Naturally, some chose to look at the lighter side of Haaland joining, with a particular reference to a current Manchester United midfielder making for particularly interesting reading...
Haaland and Sancho in the Manchester derby next season pic.twitter.com/YS0x7HtLQc
— ¹⁰ (@SxrgioSZN) May 9, 2022
Haaland never scored more Bundesliga goals in a season than Timo Werner. There's hope pic.twitter.com/UlL0fuJRMj
— Trey (@UTDTrey) May 10, 2022
Gabriel Jesus now that City have signed Erling Haaland??? pic.twitter.com/1KzywOCkKu
— Footebate (@chappiejokes) May 10, 2022
Manchester City are paying £2m less for Erling Haaland than Manchester United paid for Fred
— Jordan Elgott (@JElgott) May 10, 2022
Haaland will be highest profile signing of summer so far if it happens. Still think Charlie Adam to Liverpool could be best though
— Dan Burke (@FussballDan) May 10, 2022
What did Pep Guardiola have to say about it in his press conference you ask?
Well, not much - because as the Spaniard put, he'd been told by both clubs to keep hush...
…and here’s Pep Guardiola buzzing for Erling Haaland deal done ??? #MCFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 10, 2022
?⤵️ @footballdaily pic.twitter.com/sTZmpVmnIG
A quick look at City's squad depth would reinforce the point that everybody should be afraid next season...
Man City's squad depth with Erling Haaland is absolutely frightening ??
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) May 10, 2022
And this is all before the transfer window officially opens! pic.twitter.com/z3Ggw87sic
But enough about Haaland for a second, how must Harry Kane be feeling?
All set for a move to the Etihad last summer, things fell apart for England's captain - and now, well, he may be sat on a lonely park bench wondering what on earth happened...
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 10, 2022
Meanwhile, in the red half of Manchester...
Imagine a club from Manchester acting with utmost efficiency in the transfer market https://t.co/nxZwNTU3jL
— Scott Saunders (@_scottsaunders) May 10, 2022
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Source : 90min