Erling Haaland, a Manchester City attacker, has made an exciting start to life at the Etihad Stadium and is surely more than earning the large salary built into his contract.

Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland reportedly earns more than double that of teammate Kevin De Bruyne amid his stunning start to life at the Etihad Stadium.

The reigning Premier League champions secured a mega-money deal for the Norwegian striker in the summer having paid the release clause written into his contract with former club Borussia Dortmund.

City forked out a reported £51m for his signature and that certainly looks like a price worth paying with Haaland having enjoyed a record-breaking run to start his Premier League career. His Champions League brace against FC Copenhagen in midweek took his goals tally to an astounding 19 in just 12 matches in all competitions.

That form has seen the fee Man City paid for him appear like a bargain although the same cannot quite be said of the wages that the striker is earning at the Etihad Stadium.

According to Daily Mail, the Norwegian forward is earning a pay packet of just under £900k per week. He makes £375k per week as base pay but his contract includes a number of ‘almost guaranteed’ bonuses, taking his wage up to those eye-watering levels.

It makes him by far the highest-paid player in the Premier League having usurped the wage taken home each week by City colleague De Bruyne.

Erling Haaland earns more than double that of Kevin De Bruyne

The Belgian playmaker has long been considered one of the best and most effective players in the country. The new contract that he signed in the summer of 2021 reportedly sees him receive a wage of £400k per week as per Capology – although it is not disclosed how many bonuses the 31-year-old has written into that deal.

For context, the likes of Jack Grealish, Joao Cancelo, John Stones and Rodri all earn in excess of £200k per week but none come anywhere near the lofty wages current being pocketed by the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Meanwhile, academy graduate Phil Foden is paid £60k per week, whilst star performers Ilkay Gundogan, Aymeric Laporte, Ruben Dias and Ederson earn between £100k and £180k – the Brazilian stopper claiming the lowest of the four. Fellow summer arrival Julian Alvarez only takes home £50k per week and is among the lowest earners at the club.

It has been reported that City may not have to commit to paying Haaland’s stunning salary for very long with it being suggested that a £172m release clause becomes active in his deal in less than two years’ time. Spanish giants Real Madrid are reportedly attempting to take advantage of that fact with a move for Haaland in the near future.

Alfie Haaland – the striker’s dad – has also admitted that his son may only stay in the Premier League for a few seasons. City boss Pep Guardiola has refuted those claims and emphasised that Haaland is happy with the reigning Premier League champions – his contract set to run until 2027.

“He has no release clause for Real Madrid or any other team. It’s not true, what can I say? I have the feeling he is incredibly happy here and we will try to make him happy,” Guardiola said.

“You cannot worry about the rumours, we have to worry about what we can control.”

Haaland will of course be aiming to continue his record-breaking run this weekend with City set to host struggling Southampton at the Etihad Stadium.

He has of course scored a hat-trick in each of his last three Premier League appearances on home soil – Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United all finding themselves on the brutal end of the 22-year-old’s talents.

source: www.mirror.co.uk