Date: 30th September 2022 at 10:45am
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Manchester City face Manchester United on Sunday in the second of two huge derbies in the Premier League this weekend. 

First of all, Tottenham Hotspur travel to The Emirates to face Arsenal in the north London derby on Saturday afternoon.

Then, attention turns to Manchester as the two sides face off at The Etihad.

Both City and United are in good form going into the derby, currently sitting second and fifth respectively in the Premier League table.

All eyes will be on Erling Haaland to see if the Norwegian striker can continue his sensational start to his Citizens career.

The forward has scored 11 goals in his first seven matches in the Premier League, and he will be eager to score against City’s biggest rivals.

In the meantime, it has emerged that City may face a battle to keep hold of the 22-year-old, though, as Real Madrid are reportedly considering a double swoop for Haaland and his teammate Joao Cancelo.

According to Spanish outlet AS via The Sun, the La Liga champions are keen on recruiting both players, although they are willing to wait for Haaland.

It is claimed that Madrid are plotting a move for full-back Cancelo next summer, when they feel he could be available for between £36-45 million.

Madrid could be in need of a full-back as Ferland Mendy is currently refusing to lower his demands and may therefore leave before his contract expires in 2025.

Cancelo has established himself as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs since joining from Juventus in 2019.

Haaland scored his 21st goal for Norway last week

In that time, he has made 138 appearances for the club, scoring eight goals and providing 20 assists in that time.

His versatility has also been crucial to Pep Guardiola’s side’s success, with the Portugal international having played regularly at both left-back and his more natural right-back.

City may therefore face a battle to keep hold of Cancelo next summer, but the following year could prove even more problematic.

As mentioned in the report, Haaland’s reported release clause of £161 million becomes active in the summer of 2024, and Real have allegedly pencilled in that date to make a move for the striker.

Real Madrid won both the Spanish title and the Champions League last term, with striker Karim Benzema’s superb form a huge factor in their success.

The Frenchman is 34-years-old, though, and the Spanish side are therefore searching for replacements for him.

Haaland has a remarkable career record so far, having scored 29 goals in 27 games for RB Salzburg, and 86 goals in 89 games for previous club Borussia Dortmund.

If Haaland were to leave, City may rue letting Gabriel Jesus join Arsenal during the recent transfer window, as the Premier League champions would be left with only Julian Alvarez as a recognised striker in their squad.

Real were linked with Haaland prior to his move to Manchester, and it now looks likely that they will reignite their interest in him in the summer of 2024.

 
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