By Andy Hampson, PA
Erling Haaland has been allowed to take care of “personal matters” by Borussia Dortmund amid increased speculation the striker is poised to sign for Manchester City.
There have been fresh reports the Norway international is close to finalising a summer move to the Premier League champions with some even suggesting he has already undergone a medical.
Speculation gathered momentum on Monday when Dortmund revealed the much-coveted 21-year-old was dealing with unspecified issues on a day when the team were not training.
“The players have no training today, and we allowed Erling to take care of personal matters,” Dortmund were quoted as telling German broadcaster SPORT1.
City did not comment on the reports when contacted by the PA news agency.
Haaland has been heavily linked with City for several months. It was reported recently personal terms for a five-year contract had already been agreed, and the club were almost ready to trigger the player’s £63 million (€73.6 million) release clause.
It has now been claimed he spent time in Brussels on Monday for his City medical.
If completed, the move would end City’s long search for an out-and-out centre-forward to replace record goalscorer Sergio Aguero, who left the Etihad Stadium last year.
City tried but failed in a high-profile attempt to prise England captain Harry Kane away from Tottenham last summer.
Haaland, whose father Alf-Inge played for City from 2000-03, has been prolific since joining Dortmund from RB Salzburg in January 2020, scoring 85 goals in 88 appearances for the German side.
