Real Madrid line up Erling Haaland to take Kylian Mbappe's No.9 slot this summer with Saudi Arabia set to make final push for Vinicius Junior transfer

The growing influence and spending power of Saudi Arabia has shaken the footballing world in recent years, with several high-profile players making the switch to the Middle East. Now, Vinicius appears to be one of their primary targets, with clubs in the Gulf nation dreaming of pulling off one of their most ambitious transfers to date. The Brazilian has reportedly turned down a staggering financial package from Saudi Arabia already believed to be in the range of €1 billion over five years.

Despite being rebuffed the first time, journalist Florian Plettenberg has reported that the move is far from dead. Saudi officials remain determined, continuing to pursue what has been described as a deal of “unprecedented scale”, potentially setting new benchmarks in both transfer fees and player salaries. Should Vinicius ultimately accept a move this summer, Real Madrid are reportedly ready to act fast with a Plan B: going all-in on signing Haaland from Manchester City. The prolific Norwegian striker has long been admired by the Madrid hierarchy, but any move previously appeared unnecessary with both Vinicius and Mbappe already on the books.

If Vinicius departs, Haaland would slot naturally into the central attacking role, freeing up space for Mbappe to drift wideleft, a position he has preferred throughout his career. That versatility could make a Haaland-Mbappe-Rodrygo trio not only feasible but frightening for any opposition, potentially forming one of the most dangerous attacking line-ups the game has seen.

Real Madrid’s hopes of securing Haaland, however, are far from straightforward. At the beginning of 2025, the striker extended his contract with Manchester City, committing himself to the Premier League champions until 2034. Crucially, the new deal reportedly does not include any release clause, removing a typical escape route for clubs like Madrid looking to swoop in. Without a buyout option, Madrid would have to negotiate directly with City, who are unlikely to let go of their talisman without a fierce fight - and an enormous fee.