Haaland has a '£175MILLION release clause which only applies OUTSIDE the EPL'

Erling Haaland has a £175million release clause which only applies to teams outside of the Premier League, reports have claimed.

Sportsmail exclusively revealed last week that the Manchester City superstar, who has made an explosive start to life at the club since his £51m move from Borussia Dortmund, is earning £865,000-per-week at the Etihad.

The Athletic have now reported that his five-year deal includes a release clause, but one which will make it almost impossible for the Norwegian to move to a Premier League rival.

It's said that Haaland's £175m release clause is only available to teams outside of the Premier League and starts in the summer of 2024.

The clause then decreases near the end of his contract which is set to expire in the summer of 2027.

By that time, the Norwegian who has already 20 scored goals in 13 games for City this season, will be 27-years-old and should be in the prime of his career.

His release clause will alert Europe's biggest giants including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, who have all been previously linked to Haaland, and would love to add him to their ranks.

However, for the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and the rest of the Premier League, they would likely have to wait and hope that Haaland is a free agent come the end of his Man City contract.

That looks unlikely however, with Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side the place to be at the moment in the Premier League for players hoping to win trophies.

The Athletic report that there's a strong feeling that Spanish clubs will come knocking on Man City's door in 2024 - given Real Madrid and El Clasico rivals Barcelona both have strikers in their 30s.

By the summer of 2024, Real Madrid star Karim Benzema will be 36, while Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski will be turning the same age shortly before the 2024-2025 season gets underway.

So it would make the perfect timing for the clubs to look to the future and bring in what appears to be one of football's next true superstar players following the Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi era.

There would though be additional bonuses and agent fees to pay, which are expected to be on the same level as what City had to pay this summer.

While City paid Dortmund £51m, the whole deal including agent fees and bonuses is said to be around the £85m figure.

Haaland is currently happy with life at City, where his incredible ability to find the back of the net is helped further by the outstanding players around him.

Sportsmail reported last week that Haaland could reach 66 goals this season if he continues at his current rate.

Haaland's goal in City's 4-0 victory over Southampton at the weekend was his 15th in nine Premier League games, and he is now just 17 behind Mohamed Salah who holds the record in a 38-game season.

His manager, Guardiola, joked at the weekend that he was 'upset' Haaland only scored one goal against the Saints after scoring three hat-tricks in all competitions this season.

He said: 'I am so upset with him. He didn't score three goals so that's why the petition to sack him from the Premier League isn't going to happen.'