This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to The Sun, Manchester City are the latest side to join the race to sign Red Bull Salzburg hotshot Erling Haaland.

What's the word?

The 19-year-old has been the talk of the town in European football this season, following a blistering start to the campaign in both the Norwegian top-flight and the Champions League.

The striker has scored 18 times in just 11 games across all competitions this season, with arguably his biggest career highlight coming against KRC Genk in the opening match of the Champions League when he scored a hat-trick.

How much money could you make busking for a week as a freestyle footballer? Find out in the video below...

Now, The Sun claim City have joined the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona in wanting the Norway international - a move to the Etihad would see Haaland follow in his father's footsteps of playing for the Citizens.

Hot property

There is a considerable level of hype surrounding Haaland at the moment, and it is easy to see why. He truly burst onto centre-stage with his hat-trick in the Champions League, with Salzburg teammate Maximilian Wober labelling him as "phenomenal".

Watch Manchester City Live Streams With StreamFootball.tv Below

Norwegian football journalist Lars Sivertsen further painted a picture of just how dominant and physically intimidating the 6 foot 3 centre-forward can be.

"He gets about the pitch, he’s quite fluid in his movement. He’s decent with the ball and he’s a decent finisher. He’s got a lot of good ingredients for an absolutely terrifying striker. Players who have size and are still quick on the ground, it’s one of those things you can’t teach."

A swoop for Haaland would represent a significant change from Guardiola's perceived favoured approach. After all, the Spaniard seemed to ostracise Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his time at Barcelona. But City simply cannot turn their back on a prospect who is threatening to turn into one of the world's elite strikers. The system and plan may just be better off being thrown out of the window if it means the Etihad side pull of a major coup in landing the Norwegian.

It really would be a major statement of intent if City can fend off strong competition from European rivals for Haaland's signature.