MY ACCOUNT
Erling Haaland remains a man in demand — and he finally looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer.
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly eyeing the free-scoring Norwegian as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Ahead of the first leg of Dortmund’s Europa League knockout round play-off clash with Rangers we consider how the BVB talisman, who is ruled out of the game due to injury, would fit in at the Parc des Princes.
Breaking the bank
PSG are in a financial position to sign pretty much anyone they please — but recruiting Haaland would still require a considerable amount of cash.
While a reported £63million release clause represents reasonable value for an elite striker, that is only the beginning.
Any deal for the 21-year-old is expected to come in at more than £250m when other fees and wages are factored in.
But with Haaland looking tipped to become one of the greatest players the game has ever seen, Les Parisiens may well still consider that outlay to be a relative bargain.
Fitting in
When everyone is available, PSG’s strongest front three consists of Lionel Messi and Neymar flanking Mbappe.
And Haaland would surely take over the central striking role, were he to link up with the club’s South American star duo next season.
That could significantly benefit PSG as the 15-cap international can hold up the ball and offer a greater aerial threat in the box than Mbappe currently does.
With 0.24 headed goals per 90 minutes, Haaland ranks seventh in the Bundesliga for that metric, compared to just 0.1 for the French frontman.
The thought of Messi and Neymar either side of the 6ft 4in colossus will surely have the rest of Europe quaking in their boots.
Other options
If Haaland does not end up at PSG, it is difficult to see an obvious next move for Dortmund’s No9. After all, even some of the continent’s top clubs might not be able to afford him.
Manchester City, who his father Alf-Inge Haaland played for, appear to be the most likely option but their capture of Argentine prodigy Julian Alvarez from River Plate last month could well rule them out.
Robert Lewandowski has probably got at least another couple of good years left in him at Bayern Munich but could Chelsea make a shock bid?
Romelu Lukaku has hardly lived up to his club-record £97.5m price tag since returning to Stamford Bridge last August, so the Blues are still looking short of firepower in the final third.
A foregone conclusion?
As likely as a major transfer can seem in any given window, it does not always come to fruition. Take last summer’s Harry Kane saga, for example.
Haaland’s relatively low release clause does not put Dortmund in a strong position — but there is no guarantee any club will activate it, let alone set aside that reported cost of the overall package.
With youth on his side, spending another six to 12 months with the Black and Yellows — who should be playing Champions League football once again next term — would surely be a better option than making the wrong move this summer.
Under pressure
Speaking last month, Haaland accused BVB of pressuring him to make a decision about his future.
He said: “The last six months I have chosen not to say anything out of respect for Dortmund, but now the club has started to press me into making a decision.
“All I want to do is play football. But they press me about my future, so that means I have to make a decision soon.
“It means things will happen now. They have started to put a lot of pressure on me, and I have to accept that. So now is the time to get things started.”
PSG will hope that Haaland chooses Paris as his next destination, when he is finally ready to decide his future.
