Erling Haaland to Chelsea transfer: Deal 'expected', Dortmund decision, £86m firesale.
Signing Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland is a top priority for Chelsea this summer.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel, who is still yet to make his first signing as Blues boss, is desperate to add a new striker to his ranks ahead of the start of the new Premier League season and he views Haaland as his number one target.
The Leeds-born striker, who netted an incredible 41 goals in 41 appearances last season, is a dream signing for almost everyone connected with Chelsea, meaning it would be a fairytale story if a deal was to be completed.
Chelsea, though, are not alone in expressing an interest in the 20-year-old, as Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are also very keen on his services.
But the Blues are thought to be in the best financial position to try and sign him this summer.
With that said, here is a round-up of everything we know so far concerning Haaland's future and Chelsea's interest in him.
Chelsea 'agree' personal terms with Haaland
Last month, it was reported the west London outfit had agreed personal terms with the striker. That is according to journalist Ian McGarry on the Transfer Window Podcast.
Whilst that is a major step forward in their attempts to sign the frontman this summer, a fee now needs to be agreed between both clubs which is easier said than done.
Haaland drops major transfer hint
In other positive news, the 20-year-old admitted that he doesn’t want to get too comfortable in his career.
In an interview with Icon magazine, cited by The Telegraph, he said: “I have been taking a couple of steps over the past few years and I think they have been good steps for me, personally, to get out of my comfort zone and to develop even more.
“I want to challenge myself in everything that I do. It’s something I think about. It’s also for everyone to always do this. People can sometimes be too comfortable staying in their ‘zone’ so I think it’s important to get out of that.”
Haaland went on to confess his biggest dream in football, which is to win Europe’s top club competition, something Chelsea know about all too well having only recently lifted their second Champions League against Manchester City.
“That’s my big dream," he said. "To win the Champions League one day. Hopefully I can lift that trophy and that really would be, well, amazing.”
A talent like Haaland attracts the biggest clubs in football, and with City needing a striker themselves following Sergio Aguero’s exit from the club, Riyad Mahrez has been stirring the pot on Twitter after a video emerged of the two on holiday together in Mykonos.
Mahrez got in on the fun, quoting the original video and captioning it: “Agent Mahrez on duty."
However, he appeared to quash any talk of a potential move to City with a follow-up tweet that said: “Just having fun, calm down."
Bayern Munich's stance
Bayern Munich will not be pursuing a move for Haaland this summer, CEO Oliver Kahn revealed a few months ago.
The German club is not in a strong enough financial position to contemplate launching a move, meaning that is one less rival for Chelsea to think about.
"A package that costs – as we heard – over €100million is unimaginable for FC Bayern at the moment," he said when speaking to Sport Bild earlier in the year.
"Robert [Lewandowski] still has a two-year contract here. His performances cannot be questioned. He’s scored 39 goals [in the Bundesliga] so far!
