EXCLUSIVE: Man City plan to replace Haaland with Moukoko

Steve Kay

• Updated: 30 Mar 2023 23:13 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City plan to cash in on Erling Haaland and replace him with Youssoufa Moukoko 'sooner rather than later' a source close to FootballTransfers has confirmed.

Haaland has made a phenomenal start to life in the Premier League having joined from Dortmund in a €60 million transfer last summer, scoring 28 times from 26 appearances.

But commentators from Thierry Henry to Jamie Carragher have suggested that the Norwegian doesn't fit Pep Guardiola's preferred style of play, and it seems the Catalan tactician would rather have another Dortmund youngster leading the line.

READ: Secret change in Haaland’s contract triggered by Guardiola

"Manchester City have been watching Borussia Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko for over a year now," a source close to the situation told FootballTransfers insider Steve Kay.

"Pep is looking at him as the long-term replacement for Erling Haaland who is not looked upon by Guardiola as the long-term future of the club.

"I'm being told Haaland wasn't a Pep signing and that Txiki Begiristain was the driving force behind bringing Haaland to Manchester.

READ: Real Madrid prepare €240m 'Operation Haaland'

"With Haaland, an understanding was made that he would be sold In a few years earning City a gigantic profit.

'Moukoko seen as perfect replacement'

"City paid £51.2m for him plan is to sell him in a few years for close to £200m, with Moukoko seen by Pep as the perfect replacement to fit the system he likes to play.

"Pep Guardiola likens Moukoko to players like Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.

"Finally on Haaland's Contract: it runs out in 2027, word is he will sign a new contract extending it until 2028 with wages of 500,000 a week. His new contract will Value him at around £240M.

"I'm also told that the reason why Haaland didn't go to Real Madrid was because they thought they was getting [Kylian] Mbappe.

"All roads look to me like Erling will be a Madrid player sooner rather than later," he concludes.

Moukoko, still just 18, has had 10 goal-involvements (six goals and four assists) from his 18 Bundesliga outings this season, and he would have been available on a free transfer this summer had he not extended his contract until 2026 in January.