Erling Haaland is, without a doubt, one of the hottest prospects in football right now. The powerful Norwegian stands at 1.94m (6’3) and is a rare combination of pace, strength, athleticism, and finishing ability. Haaland is also in remarkable form this season, and his constant heroics at Dortmund have certainly caught the eye of many of Europe’s elite clubs. It is increasingly clear that Borussia Dortmund will have to part ways with Haaland sooner or later, as many clubs are eager to pay his hefty transfer fee. Here are some of the clubs that are at the forefront of the Erling Haaland transfer saga.
- Manchester City
Many punters, pundits, and sports fans believe that Manchester City and Haaland are a match made in heaven waiting to happen. For starters, Man City is one of the few clubs globally with the finances to fund a mega-million deal for Haaland. Also, Pep Guardiola is in the market for a new striker to replace Sergio Aguero after missing out on Harry Kane in the summer transfer window. Moreover, Guardiola’s enticing project at Manchester City is one few players can turn down, so Haaland is likely to join to satisfy his ambition. Therefore, it is not surprising that many sports fans enjoy placing bets on Haaland’s career choices.
- Real Madrid
Real Madrid is also firmly in the race to prise Haaland from Borrusia Dortmund. The Spanish giants are primarily concerned with bringing Kylian Mbappe to the Bernabeu, but Haaland remains a possible alternative. Real Madrid saved significant cash by making excellent transfer moves in the market, so they may even be able to afford Mbappe and Haaland in the summer. What’s more, Haaland is rumoured to own numerous properties in Spain, so it might be easier for Madrid to convince him to join them over other clubs.
- PSG
PSG has struggled to fend off interest in Kylian Mbappe for several seasons and may lose him to Real Madrid in the summer. This transfer could trigger the signing of Erling Haaland since he would be an excellent like-for-like superstar replacement for the outgoing Mbappe. Additionally, Haaland to PSG can happen because the star striker would undoubtedly be tempted by the prospects of partnering Lionel Messi and Neymar in the attack. Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola, also has a great relationship with PSG, facilitating the transfers of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verrati, and most recently Gianluigi Donnamura to PSG. Finally, money is not a problem for PSG, one of the few clubs that can afford the talented Norweigan.
- Chelsea
Chelsea signed Romelu Lukaku last summer to satisfy their need for a high-profile, prolific striker. However, Lukaku has flattered to deceive since his arrival, and the West London outfit could be looking to replace him immediately. Lukaku’s recent controversial interview with Sky Italia also showed signs of an unsettled player, so Chelsea might look to cut their losses by selling him and signing Haaland as a replacement. Roman Abramovich certainly has the financial firepower to pull off such a move. Still, it remains to be seen whether he will give Thomas Tuchel another high-profile striker in two summer transfer windows.
- Liverpool
Liverpool is undoubtedly an attractive destination to any high-profile modern player. Jurgen Klopp has truly transformed the side from doubters to believers, winning important trophies such as the UEFA Champions League and the elusive Premier League titles in the process. As such, Liverpool’s project will appeal to Haaland, who is keen to join a side capable of competing at the highest level for the biggest trophies. Also, Liverpool is currently struggling to convince Salah to renew his contract, so their attack may need to be refreshed next summer. Although the Reds are known for their tight wage structure and preference for shrewd signings, Salah’s departure and pressure from fans could trigger a rare big-money move for Haaland nonetheless.
- Manchester United
Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho’s arrivals seemed to be the last bit of the puzzle for Manchester United’s transitioning team. However, Ronaldo is clearly past his best, and Sancho is yet to do anything that justifies his hefty £73 million price tag. Edinson Cavani remains sharp in his backup striking role, but he is also old. Therefore, United may be keen to bolster their attack with Haaland, who they can easily afford. Manchester United’s current manager, Ralf Rangnick, is also pushing for United to snap up Haaland, who he signed as director of football while at Red Bull Salzburg. However, the excess uncertainty at Manchester United and Raiola’s sour relationship with the club could prove to be stumbling blocks.
- Juventus
Max Allegri is keen to improve his lacklustre Juventus side after losing Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United. Barcelona is also courting Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, so his potential move to Spain could further compel the Italian giants to sign Haaland. Still, there are serious doubts about whether Juventus can attract a player like Haaland in this era and whether they can afford him in the first place.
- Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich has snapped up Dortmund’s star striker once, so lightning could undoubtedly strike the same place twice in this regard. However, a lot depends on Lewandowski, whose future at Bayern is increasingly looking bleak. Nevertheless, Haaland’s huge price tag and hefty wages are likely to force the Bavarians to look elsewhere for a replacement if Lewandowski departs.
- FC Barcelona
Barcelona is a club in crisis, and Haaland’s signing might be the light at the tunnel for the fallen Spanish giants. Some sources say it is one of the teams that interest Haaland the most. However, Barcelona’s dire financial crisis and failure with recent big-money signings like Philippe Coutinho, Antoine Griezmann, and Ousmane Dembele may rule them out of the Haaland race.
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