Arsenal will have no budgetary constraints in the race to sign 26-year-old Norwegian international Erling Haaland from Manchester City.
According to a report by Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider, Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested in Erling Haaland, and they are believed to have the funds to secure his services, having been two of the “world’s biggest-spending clubs” in recent years. They are keeping a close watch on the Manchester City situation after the guilty verdict on the 115 financial charges.
However, per Pete O’Rourke, Arsenal will also have the capability of “breaking the bank” to sign Haaland from Manchester City. The report cites how the North London club had the “money ready” to land Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez in the summer transfer window, suggesting a similar situation in the battle for the Manchester City striker’s signature.
How has Erling Haaland fared at Manchester City?
Erling Haaland has blossomed into one of the world’s best players since bursting into the spotlight at Red Bull Salzburg. However, he has added layers to his game since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth €60 million in July 2022. The 26-year-old hit the ground running at the Etihad, and he has not looked back in the last four years, winning multiple individual and team honours during this period.
The Norwegian attacker has amassed 169 goals and 30 assists in 205 appearances for Manchester City thus far, while being instrumental in the club’s success over the last four seasons. He has started the 2026/27 season with a bang, scoring seven goals in as many outings; this has come on the back of a World Cup debut that saw him net seven times. Meanwhile, his exploits have piqued the attention of several high-profile clubs.
A man in demand
Arsenal’s interest in Erling Haaland is understandable. The Gunners need a prolific forward amid Viktor Gyokeres’s struggles, which have invited criticism from different quarters. While Kai Havertz has been impressive in the early days of the 2026/27 season, Haaland will be a step above what the German international contributes due to his relentless box crashing.
As for Real Madrid, the Merengues also hold a long-standing interest in the player. While Kylian Mbappe is currently the first-choice striker for Los Blancos, Kylian Mbappe is equally effective from the wide areas. So, if a prolific forward like Haaland moves to the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid can create one of the best attacks of all time with Mbappe and the Manchester City attacker.
Arsenal and Real Madrid may not be the only clubs pursuing a deal with the Norwegian forward, with recent reports linking him with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. However, with Wayne Veysey reporting that Manchester City are maintaining their innocence, a move is expected to be contingent on the Premier League club receiving harsh sanctions, which will force them to sell key players.