Real Madrid will reportedly step up their interest in Manchester City striker Erling Haaland if they decide to sell Saudi Pro League-linked Vinicius Junior.
Since joining Los Blancos in 2018, Vinicius has transformed into one of the best players in world football, and he has already won 14 trophies with the club, including three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
The 24-year-old has scored 104 goals and provided 79 assists in 309 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions, including 19 goals and 14 assists in 44 matches so far this season.
Although Vinicius still has just over two years remaining on his contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, speculation over the future of the 2024 Ballon d'Or runner-up has grown in recent months amid reported interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Vinicius has stated that he wants to sign a new deal "as soon as possible", but a recent report claimd that Real Madrid may consider selling the Brazil international and have identified Victor Osimhen as a potential replacement.
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Real Madrid identify Haaland as Vinicius Jr replacement?
Man City star Haaland was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid before the Spanish giants opted to sign Kylian Mbappe on a free transfer last summer.
Now, Sky Deutschland reporter Florian Plettenberg claims that Haaland will become Real Madrid's top transfer target if Vinicius accepts a mouth-watering offer to join a Saudi Pro League club.
Plettenberg adds that several executives and agents from across Europe, who are directly or indirectly connected to Real Madrid, are aware that a summer transfer for Vinicius to the Middle East is 'not entirely off the table'.
However, a deal to lure Vinicius away from the Spanish capital would be one of 'unprecedented scale' in terms of both transfer fee and salary.
It has previously been reported that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are prepared to offer Vinicius an 'unprecedented and irresistible' five-year deal worth a staggering €1bn (£830m).
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Could Haaland swap Man City for Real Madrid?
The potential departure of Vinicius would allow Real Madrid to dream about the prospect of linking up Haaland and Mbappe in a formidable three-man frontline with Rodrygo.
Haaland arriving at the Bernabeu to lead the line would allow Mbappe, who is currently operating down the middle of Real Madrid's attack, to move over to his favoured position on the left flank.
However, Real Madrid's possible pursuit of Haaland would be deemed a complicated one, taking into account the big-money finances involved and the fact that the striker recently penned a whopping nine-and-a-half-year contract extension at Man City until the summer of 2034, with the Norwegian now earning over £500,000 per week at the Etihad.
Haaland, who has scored 120 goals in 138 games for Man City across almost three full seasons, has seemingly committed his long-term future to the Citizens, who managed to persuade the 24-year-old's entourage to remove a release clause from his previous deal.
Speculation over the future of Man City's No.9 could intensify, though, if the club are found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules which could result in demotion from England's top tier - City are unlikely to learn the outcome of the well-documented 115 charges hearing until after the end of the season.
Oliver Thomas
