Where will Erling Haaland end up in the summer - and what do the leading contenders have to say?
- Graeme Bailey
- 14 February 2022
Every week, it seems a new favourite to land Erling Haaland emerges. Planet Sport tries to work out where the Borussia Dortmund striker will end up.
Erling Haaland is available to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer, with a specially inserted clause in his contract meaning he can be acquired for a knockdown £67million.
With the striker's market value twice that, Europe's leading clubs are, understandably, circling.
Planet Sport takes a look at the contenders and what they have had to say about the man himself.
Manchester City
City are long-term admirers, with Pep Guardiola confirming his admiration for Haaland last summer.
"To score that number of goals at his age is not easy. He's 20 years old and the numbers speak for themselves," said Guardiola.
"When that happens it's because he can score with the right, the left, via counter-attacks, in the box. He's a fantastic striker, everyone knows it."
City have never replaced Sergio Aguero, and although they have a deal done for Julian Alvarez, there is definitely room for Haaland at the Etihad.
Manchester United
Manchester United's liking for Haaland is well documented having bid for him before he moved to Dortmund.
United interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who is set to move upstairs in the summer, also tried to sign him while he was with Leipzig.
"It was a great shame that he is the first player that RB Leipzig, since reaching the Bundesliga, missed out on from Salzburg," he said.
"What a shame it was for Leipzig, he would have suited us, our team and our style of play."
United are losing Edinson Cavani in the summer, while Mason Greenwood is unavailable, so it is not surprising they are again in the mix.
Chelsea
We know Chelsea, even after signing Romelu Lukaku, like Haaland, with manager Thomas Tuchel a big fan.
"We have talked about Haaland a couple of times also in the transfer window. It looked unrealistic and not possible to do," said Tuchel.
"Of course we talk regularly about him because he is a fantastic player and a profile at Dortmund, which is a big rival for us in the Champions League."
Chelsea have a number of players they could move on, including Timo Werner, so they can't be ruled out.
Bayern Munich
Remember where Robert Lewandowski came from? Could Erling Haaland follow in his footsteps - it is certainly a consideration.
Bayern are not in the habit of allowing big names to leave the Bundesliga, and you can't rule them out.
Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirmed last year the club were indeed looking at him.
"He's a top player, and I hear a great boy too. You look there, but he's a Dortmund player," he said.
"Sixty goals in 60 games. You have to look, otherwise we would be full amateurs."
Paris Saint-Germain
PSG have long been linked to Haaland, and although nobody has ever denied an interest - nobody has confirmed it either. That is perhaps due to the fact they are concentrating on Kylian Mbappe, and where his future may lie.
However, Zinedine Zidane - strongly tipped to take charge of PSG this summer - is a confirmed fan, indeed of both Mbappe and Haaland.
"I watch all the games and I like to see great things like any fan," he said.
"They are both very good and very young, players of the present and for the future. Whether one or the other, I won't say, everyone has their own preferences."
Real Madrid
Florentino Perez, who is also chasing Kylian Mbappe, is a known fan but their actual interest was revealed by Haaland's current club, Borussia Dortmund.
Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said late in 2021: "No matter where I go, everyone speaks to you about Erling Haaland.
"All I know is a guarantee that Real Madrid are very interested in him. I could name 25 others now. But I know for sure, it can be that he leaves, but it can also be that he stays."
Barcelona
Barcelona have got their finances sorted now and they look like joining the Haaland party.
President Joan Laporta is reported to have told board members that he wants the Norwegian, and publicly he has refused to rule anything out.
"Everything is possible. All the greatest players contemplate the possibility of coming to Barca.
"Everybody should get ready, as we are back as big players in the market."
Could Barca be the landing spot for Haaland? You can't rule it out.
