Chelsea have identified Sasa Kalajdzic as a potential goalkeeper if they fail to convince Borussia Dortmund to download Erling Haaland this summer.
As first revealed by 90 minutes, Chelsea are preparing a bid of up to 150 million pounds to sign Haaland, although Dortmund continue to insist that there is no amount of money on the planet that can convince them to sell the 20-year-old this year. .
Chelsea push to sign Haaland / Matthias Hangst / Getty Images
Although it is believed that Dortmund would at least listen to an offer of £ 150 million, there is an awareness that Haaland may be impossible to sign this summer. If their search for the Norwegian fails, Chelsea are expected to turn to Inter Romelu Lukaku or Tottenham’s Harry Kane.
These alternative targets would both cost over £ 100 million and may well be out of reach as well, so Chelsea are looking at possible cheaper alternatives, and according to The Athletic, Kalajdzic is a new addition to the radar.
The 6’7 Austrian scored 16 goals in 33 appearances for Stuttgart last season and even added six assists for good measure, and Chelsea are interested in bringing him to Stamford Bridge if all else fails.
There has been no contact between the two clubs yet and future talks may not go well as Stuttgart do not want to sell and are expected to demand upwards of 30 million pounds for the 24-year-old.
Finding a striker is Chelsea’s top priority, but many things happen behind the scenes when the Blues seem to strengthen in a handful of positions.
In midfield, West Ham’s Declan Rice is the top target, but his £ 100m asking price is a major problem and has led Chelsea to Aurelien Tchouameni in Monaco.
Chelsea are “seriously” considering moving for the 21-year-old, who was named Ligue 1’s best young player last season and is expected to cost significantly less than Rice.
Chelsea looks at Tchouameni / John Berry / Getty Images
A new center-back is wanted, as well as a new reserve goalkeeper to replace Willy Caballero, who left at the end of his contract this summer.
Wayne Hennessey is a candidate, but the former Crystal Palace man has been tipped to join Burnley, and that could force Chelsea to turn to another free agent, former Fulham stopper Marcus Bettinelli.
Bettinelli was pursued by Chelsea as far back as 2015, when he rejected a move for fear he would not get enough minutes, but the Blues hope he may have changed his mind in the last six seasons.
