THE race for next season’s Premier League is hotting up – in more ways than one.
Manchester City and Liverpool have splashed out record sums to snap up two of the most exciting strikers in the game.
12Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has a spectacularly ripped physiqueCredit: INSTAGRAM/ERLING HAALAND
But it’s not just the fees for 21-year-old Norwegian hotshot Erling Haaland and Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez, 22, that are turning heads.
Female fans have been paying special attention to the stars’ ripped torsos – which neither are shy of showing off.
Grant Rollings takes a look at the men whose goals could bring the big trophies.
Erling Haaland: Manchester City
- AGE: 21
- FEE: £51million
- PAY: £375,000 a week
- DAD: Ex-pro footballer
- MUM: Heptathlon champ
- LIKES: Giving £12,000 watches to 33 team-mates
12Erling Haaland plans to shake up the Premier LeagueCredit: INSTAGRAM/ERLING HAALAND
12Haaland is hoping to fire Manchester City to another Premier League titleCredit: Getty
EVEN before Erling arrived at mega-rich Man City, he was a young man accustomed to the finest things in life.
The 6ft 5in, blond-haired colossus, nicknamed The Terminator, flies on private jets, has a personal fitness guru and chef, and reportedly gave a £25,000 tip after splashing out £400,000 at a restaurant during a holiday in Greece.
On leaving German side Borussia Dortmund to head to the Premier League this week, the generous star gave each of his 33 team-mates Rolex watches worth £12,000 each.
But as City’s now highest-paid player — on a reported £375,000 a week — he can afford it.
Having knocked in 62 goals in 67 games for Borussia Dortmund, the striker was wanted by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and both Manchester sides.
12Haaland has been a Manchester City supporter since he was a boy
12Norwegian striker Erling Haaland and brother Astor take a dip in a ice poolCredit: INSTAGRAM/Astor Haaland
12Erling grew up in the Norwegian town of Bryne
He said: “I was born in England. I have been a City fan my whole life. I know a lot about the club. I feel at home here.”
But he was also once snapped in an Arsenal kit and The Sun can reveal he told a Norwegian newspaper five years ago: “My dream is to win the Premier League with Leeds.”
Sport is in Erling’s genes. As well as having a footballer dad, his mum, Gry Marita Braut, was a Norwegian heptathlon champion.
Growing up in the small town of Bryne, he was also impressive at the long jump, handball and golf.
The lanky athlete, who has an older brother Astor and sister Gabrielle, has gone to great lengths to build up his physique, eating 4,000 calories a day.
Erling is single at the moment and is said to prefer to focus on football.
In fact, so obsessed is the Norwegian that he wakes up every morning to the sound of the Champions League anthem.
Darwin Nunez: Liverpool
- AGE: 22
- FEE: £85million
- PAY: £140,000 a week
- DAD: Bricklayer
- MUM: Former bottle seller
- LOVES: Girlfriend Lorena and son Darwin
12Liverpool’s new hotshot striker Darwin Nunez hails from UruguayCredit: INSTAGRAM/DARWIN NUNEZ
12Liverpool splashed out on Nunez after a prolific season for BenficaCredit: AFP
In 2020 Nunez joined Portuguese side Benfica and began dating Lorena Manas. They had their first child, a son also called Darwin, in January.
Now he has made his biggest footballing move — but it won’t go to his head.
As he once said: “I don’t forget where I come from — a humble, hard-working family.
12Darwin Nunez’s partner is Lorena ManasCredit: Instagram / @lorenaamanas
12Darwin Nune grew up in Uruguayan town Artigas
12Lorena gave birth to their son, who they have also called DarwinCredit: INSTAGRAM/DARWIN NUNEZ
12Darwin and mum Silvia, who used to work as a bottle seller
