'If someone wants Erling, it’s easy' - Pep Guardiola insists Real Madrid's interest in Haaland transfer is an 'honour' as he addresses Man City striker's contract situation

Last week, reports from Spain suggested that the 23-year-old striker was unhappy with life in Manchester and was looking to leave the club in the summer with the reports linking him with Los Blancos. Guardiola immediately hit back and refuted the rumours by claiming that they were an attempt to unsettle the striker. The Catalan manager was once again asked about Haaland's situation.

Talking to the media, Guardiola said [via Yahoo Sports]: "For one report, for one journalist or one Twitter account, one Instagram account, do you think they are going to change something that is going to happen? It’s not going to happen. It’s going to happen when Erling decides to extend the contract or not, when the club decides to extend a contract or not, or when we have potential offers to him or not. If someone wants Erling, it’s easy. Call Man City and ask. It’s what we do when we want to sign someone. It’s not more complicated than that."

When asked if the club wanted Haaland to stay, Guardiola said: "What do you think? That we don’t want Erling to stay here for one decade? We want him – for a long, long time at this club. For a long time. We are in love with him, we want him."

Yet Guardiola admitted he does not know what the future will bring.

"I don’t have info. He arrived last season and the impact was incredible," he said. "The beginning of this season, the numbers were really good too. He’s had two months injured. What happens in the future? Honestly, I don’t know. We are happy to have him, hopefully, he’s happy to be with us. That is what we know. And the rest? I don’t know."

City are set to initiate new contract discussions with Haaland, who scored 53 goals in the club's Treble-winning season last season. Despite missing the last two months due to injury, the 23-year-old has maintained his high level of performance this season and is presently tied for first place in the Premier League scoring charts with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.

The Norwegian made his long-awaited return to action with Man City when the defending champions took on Burnley last week. He is expected to make his full return later today when City take on Brentford away from home.