Erling Haaland spoke to the media about Chelsea’s rumored plans to offer $210 million so that he can transfer from Borussia Dortmund sometime this summer. The German club remains firm in its refusal to negotiate, but could be tempted by an offer of these proportions. Dortmund has already sold Jadon Sancho to Manchester United for $100 million this summer.
Haaland says he hasn’t kept himself busy thinking about a transfer away from the German Bundesliga. “Before yesterday, I haven’t talked to my agent in a month,” Haaland said. “I hope it’s just rumors … €175 million [$210 million] would be a lot of money for one person.” he said in a press conference.
Dortmund’s chief, Sebastian Kehl, distanced the club from talks with any of Haaland’s suitors.
“In the discussions with Raiola for [the transfer of] Donyell Malen, I did not have the feeling we have to meet again about Haaland. We don’t want to give him up,” Kehl revealed.
Haaland isn’t worried about all of the transfer stories involving him. “I have three years left on my contract,” Haaland said. “I’m enjoying my time here. Of course, trophies are important. that’s what I want.” The Norwegian is currently in Switzerland with Dortmund for preseason training.
Haaland has scored at an outrageous rate since joining Dortmund from RB Salzburg for $23.5 million in January 2020. In total, the striker scored 57 goals in 59 games. In the 2020/2021 season, which was his first full campaign in the Dortmund shirt, he netted 41 times over the same number of matches.
Haaland was a target for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Manchester United too, but all of them dropped out after learning of the financial implications his transfer would involve. 997655.com ran a simulation on the widely acclaimed Football Manager gaming platform to check how a debut season at Chelsea might look like for Erling Haaland.
The transfer didn’t come easy in virtual life either, but OG News made it happen and, finally, Dortmund agreed to sell for nearly $240 million. Haaland performed right from the start, finishing the season with 32 goals and 11 assists to his name. Twenty came in the Premier League, with another six in the Champions League and six in the domestic cups (four in the FA Cup and two in the Carabao Cup). Chelsea could only lift the FA Cup at the end of the season, despite the great individual numbers Haaland brought with him at Stamford Bridge.
Moving back to real life, Dortmund is now at -700 to keep Haaland, with the bookies seemingly believing the public statements made by the German giants. A move to Chelsea is at +175, while a shock transfer to City is at +700. Real Madrid is far behind at +1100.
