Manchester City's crisis puts Real Madrid and Barcelona on alert over Haaland

Quite a mess has broken out at Manchester City, and not because of anything that happened on the field. The case over the club's alleged financial rule violations is already starting to shake up the transfer market, and that's where Real Madrid and Barcelona come in, both keeping a close eye on what might happen with Erling Haaland.

According to The Sun, a severe punishment, the kind that includes relegation, would force City to rethink the future of its key players, and Haaland tops that list despite still having roughly eight years left on his contract. Eight years is a long time, but so is the uncertainty currently surrounding the English club.

He isn't the only name in play, either. Sport reports that the situation could also cool City's pursuit of Cavan Sullivan, the 16-year-old midfielder who plays for the Philadelphia Union and the United States youth national team. Sullivan already has a move to the Etihad lined up for when he turns 18, but if City's outlook keeps darkening, Barcelona and Real Madrid resurface as the clubs tracking him most closely.

Arsenal and Tottenham battle for Maza

Shifting the focus, a small war has broken out in England over Ibrahim Maza, the Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder. According to TEAMtalk, both Arsenal and Tottenham have ramped up their interest in the 20-year-old, though they aren't the only suitors: Chelsea, Manchester City and Aston Villa also have him on their radar. His versatility and technical quality have made him one of the most talked-about talents in the Bundesliga, so it wouldn't be surprising if this saga drags on for weeks.

Elsewhere, Arsenal pops up again, this time sharing top billing with Chelsea: both clubs have shown the strongest Premier League interest in Jacobo Ramón, the Como center back, according to Diario AS. Real Madrid is also exploring the possibility of bringing the 21-year-old defender back for next season, though the player himself would reportedly prefer to stay at the Italian club to guarantee himself regular starting minutes.

In Barcelona, meanwhile, thoughts have already turned to the left back position of the future. Diario Sport reports that the Catalan club is monitoring David Raum (RB Leipzig) and Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) as options for next summer, since both will become free agents. The reasoning is simple: Alejandro Balde hasn't had the impact expected of him, and questions are growing over his future at the club.

In Italy, Inter, Milan and Juventus are closely following the contract renewal talks between André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Napoli, according to Tuttosport. Negotiations to extend the 30-year-old midfielder's deal beyond 2027 have stalled, compounded by injuries that limited him to just 18 Serie A appearances this season.

Among the day's smaller moves, Neto arrived in Turin to undergo his medical with Juventus, a club he is expected to sign with through 2027, according to Nicolò Schira. And in South America, Corinthians took a major step in the race for free agent Renato Sanches after submitting an official offer, according to Footmercato.