John Aldridge did not try to be subtle about Erling Haaland.

In a column picked up by Empire of the Kop, the former Reds striker said his old club should be first in the queue if Manchester City’s 114-charge guilty verdict forces a fire sale at the Etihad.

“If they have to sell, Haaland’s the first one you’d want. I’d love him at Liverpool. Everyone will want him.”

Aldridge thinks any sell-off would push the biggest names towards continental Europe rather than keep them in English football.

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“All the City players’ agents now will be licking their lips, because if City do go down, Haaland won’t be playing in the lower divisions.”

The column landed days after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of 115 Premier League charges relating to financial breaches. The ruling covered all 80 financial charges concerning the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons, together with 34 of 35 charges of failing to cooperate with the Premier League’s investigation. The club has confirmed it will appeal.

Haaland’s reported preference: Spain

Haaland is reportedly not looking at England.

Football365, citing Spanish outlet Nacional, reported earlier this week that the Norwegian “dreams of playing in the Spanish capital” and is “already talking with his agents” about a possible 2027 move. The report placed Real Madrid as “one of the few destinations capable of enticing him if he leaves Manchester City.”

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TEAMtalk has carried a similar line, naming Barcelona and Real Madrid as the preferred destinations and placing 2027 as the realistic window for any exit.

Gilroy KC on the legal route

Haaland signed a nine-year contract with Manchester City in early 2025, and the club has maintained that no release clauses were included.

Barrister Paul Gilroy KC told footballtransfers.com that employment contracts carry an implied term of trust and confidence that in theory could be invoked if the FFP ruling were deemed to have broken it.

“If you don’t trust me or I don’t trust you, or you call me a liar and a thief on a Tuesday, I can’t work for you on a Wednesday,” Gilroy said.

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Asked whether that mechanism could allow Liverpool to sign Haaland for nothing immediately, he was more cautious.

“That is a possibility; I’ve seen commentators saying [it is] unlikely; it depends on so many things.”

A free transfer route is not impossible, but it would face a long court fight before anyone at Anfield could start planning for it.

City’s appeal and a 2027 window

City’s appeal is the next step, and Premier League rules mean a final punishment ruling may not land until 2027. That timeline falls on the same window Spanish reports have identified for a Haaland decision.

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Haaland himself has said nothing in public about the Premier League speculation.

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