Chelsea has earned quite a large paycheck from selling academy graduates this year. And with Erling Haaland on the market this summer, the Blues just got a huge bump in funding to back the deal. Tino Livramento departs for Southampton after refusing to extend his stay at Stamford Park.
Several top Premier League teams like Arsenal, Manchester City and popular clubs like RB Leipzig, AS Monaco, AC Milan, and Brighton & Hove Albion were eyeing the youngster. The 18-year-old decided to move to St. Mary’s after Southampton offered a £5 million contract.
The final talks were held over the weekend. And this is a serious blow to Chelsea as the young defender had scooped the Academy Player of the Year award in the previous season. The youngster would soon find a spot on the bench against teams like Manchester City and Arsenal if he were playing for the Blues. However, as both sides reached a stalemate, Chelsea was forced to cash in.
Closing in on Haaland
Borussia Dortmund’s stance on Erling Haaland was recently revealed when the club acquired Donyell Malen as a replacement. Chelsea was always keen on acquiring the goal scorer and has reportedly set aside £130 million for the deal.
According to recent reports, Dortmund won’t wait for the end of August to sell Haaland. This could play in Chelsea’s favour, as they’re out all guns blazing in the chase for the 21-year-old Norwegian striker.
Thomas Tuchel isn’t keen on making rash decisions. But with Haaland on the cards, there might not be much time to think. “There were a few casual phone calls between Marina (Granovskaia), Petr (Čech), and my assistant. There is no reason to rush”, Tuchel added.
Chelsea’s Transfer Plans this Summer
Chelsea is yet to make any major purchases this summer with Marcus Bettinelli being the sole transfer. However, Thomas Tuchel is looking for a midfield, a centre-back, and a striker. And if there were more time, he would like to sign a right wing-back too.
With Sevilla bargaining hard for Jules Koundé, Romelu Lukaku and Erling Haaland remain Chelsea’s primary targets. With Inter Milan rejecting two offers for the Belgian star already, Chelsea is dashing for the third time. Tuchel is keen on signing Lukaku, although the 28-year-old striker has made his stance clear on previous occasions.
Lukaku wants to stay at Inter in the foreseeable future and this stance was reinstated by CEO Beppe Marotta. “We’re very clear on where we stand. Lukaku is not for sale. He is an important piece of the puzzle and it would be foolish to part with him at the moment”, Marotta explained.
Haaland remains a top pick after scoring 41 goals in the last season. While Borussia Dortmund isn’t keen on selling the Norway international, a mammoth bid of over £150 million could sway its decision. The Blues are currently offering £130 million for Haaland and it will need a few more rounds of negotiation to convince the Bundesliga club to agree to the terms.
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