Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is expected to become the most coveted player on the planet when his € 75 million release clause begins next summer, but according to a report in Spain, the confusion for his signature may actually come six months earlier.
Chelsea had chased Haaland earlier this summer and were prepared to pay over 130 million pounds for the Norwegian international, only to find Dortmund unwilling to sell – despite the fact that he will be available for half of it when his release clause becomes active.
Haaland is wanted by Europe’s elite / Lars Baron / Getty Images
Until now, it had been widely accepted that the clause would only become active in the summer of 2022, but according to Marca, it will actually come to life the moment the 2021 summer transfer window closes.
It is claimed that Haaland’s first promise to Dortmund when he returned in January 2020 was that he would spend at least two years with the club, which agreed to give him the freedom he was looking for in the form of this release clause.
The report even suggests that Dortmund have already prepared for his departure by taking in Dutch striker Donyell Malen from PSV Eindhoven. The 22-year-old was billed as a replacement for winger Jadon Sancho, who joined Manchester United, but the fact that the pair play in different positions raised suspicions that Malen’s move had more to do with Haaland’s future.
When it comes to suitors for Haaland, Real Madrid are appointed as the leading candidates. They have saved up to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe for over £ 100 million this summer, but with the Frenchman proving unavailable, they can use that money to land Haaland and then sign Mbappe on a free transfer when his contract expires six months later.
Real will face stiff competition from Manchester United and Manchester City, who have both followed Haaland for a while now but have never been prepared to pay the kind of money Chelsea offered earlier this summer.
Haaland will have plenty of options / INA FASSBENDER / Getty Images
City want to sign Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the coming weeks but have not found it impossible to convince chairman Daniel Levy to part with his talisman, which could lead them to turn to Haaland in the future.
As for United, Ole Gunnar Solskjær prioritized moves for Sancho and Raphael Varane this summer while Haaland was too expensive, but he remains close with his compatriot and is expected to throw his hat in the ring when his release clause becomes active.
