The hunt for the signature of Erling Haaland is set to take a step towards completion in the coming weeks with the Chelsea transfer target set to make a decision on his future.
Haaland has shot to prominence over the past two years, first with Red Bull Salzburg and then Borussia Dortmund, triggering a manic race for his signature.
The 21-year-old striker is viewed as a generational talent by many and has scored a staggering 109 goals in 106 appearances across his time at both clubs.
It is no surprise then that the Blues have taken such a strong interest in Haaland but signing him will not be easy, with the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona all eager to sign him too.
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Haaland has a €75million (£62million) release clause in his contract, that is set to become active during the summer, creating a unique situation when none of the major clubs are likely to be priced out of a transfer.
It may therefore come down to who can offer the player the best package and most attractive career prospects.
As per a report from The Athletic, the player is set to make his final decision in the coming weeks ahead of the summer transfer window, with Manchester City and Real Madrid both said to be leading Chelsea in the race for his signature.
Madrid are eager to sign both Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the summer, with the latter set to become available on a free transfer.
The report suggests they would rather wait until the summer of 2023 to sign Haaland as a direct replacement for Karim Benzema, but the intense chase for his signature could force them to act early.
Haaland’s father, Alfe-Inge Haaland, played for Manchester City for three years between 2000 and 2003, so there could be a sentimental temptation to sign for the Premier League leaders.
While there were reports in the summer suggesting the player was eager to move to Stamford Bridge, links between Chelsea and Haaland have cooled in recent months.
With Roman Abramovich set to sell the club in the coming weeks, the future in west London is looking murkier than usual, and could cause problems in terms of recruitment this summer.