Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia has been given the green light by owner Roman Abramovich to try and pull off an audacious summer move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.
That is according to German media outlet BILD, who report Chelsea have earmarked the Norway international as one of their top targets for the forthcoming transfer window.
Since late-December, the Blues, who will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to life under head coach Thomas Tuchel when they welcome Manchester United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, have been heavily linked with a move for the Dortmund ace in an attempt to bolster their attacking options.
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But since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in west London towards the end of January, the Blues’ reported interest in the youngster, who has been in formidable form this season, has soared, with no shortage of reports suggesting that Tuchel wants to sign Haaland this summer more than any other player on his wish list.
Chelsea, though, are not alone in holding an interest in the former Red Bull Salzburg ace. Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid are all thought to be bid admirers, with Madrid considering launching a big-money move for Haaland as a long-term replacement for France international Karim Benzema.
It is reported that Dortmund value Haaland at £95million and would be chasing a fee around that figure to consider parting with him this summer.
Haaland has a release clause of £66million in his contract but that does not become active until the summer of 2022, meaning any club wishing to sign him this summer will have to pay a price significantly higher.
The one bonus Chelsea, as well as other suitors may have, is that it has been reported that Dortmund could look to offload some of their top talents, if they fail to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
The German club have been impacted heavily in a financial sense in the last 12 months as a result of the pandemic, meaning they could be forced to cut their cloth in an attempt to recoup some money if they fail to secure a place in next season’s Champions League.
Other players who could be offloaded are England duo Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho, both of whom have also been linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.
But Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc has warned that Haaland could remain with the Bundesliga giants, despite them facing the prospect of financial uncertainty if they do fail to qualify,
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“It is clear that Erling Haaland cannot, does not want to, and will not switch to just any other club after his time at Borussia Dortmund,” he said in a press conference earlier this week.
“We are very happy that we have Erling here. We continue planning with him. I don’t think he feels uncomfortable at Dortmund. We assume that we will achieve our goal of qualifying for the Champions League in the end.”
This season, Haaland, who does not even turn 21 until July, has scored 27 goals in 26 matches in all competitions.