HICCUP
Chelsea's opening offer of Tammy Abraham plus cash for Erling Haaland has been rejected by Borussia Dortmund, according to reports.
But talkSPORT has been told talk of a possible £150million transfer is no joke, with Roman Abramovich ‘giving the go-ahead’ for the stunning move.
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Chelsea appear to be the only chasing club willing to pay the cash needed to land Haaland this summer, before the European transfer market goes into a frenzy over the goal machine striker next year.
Haaland’s Dortmund contract features a release clause that will come into effect next summer, which would make the 20-year-old available for around £65m.
While the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United are keen, it is claimed Haaland’s suitors are planning to wait until that clause activates before making their move in a bid to save money.
And while Chelsea are prepared to pay, their first attempts to land Haaland have ended in failure, with Sky Germany reporting Dortmund have rejected the Blues' opening offer.
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Reports have claimed the Blues have to get players off their books to do the sensational deal, with the Daily Mirror suggesting that could mean Abraham moving the other way in a player-plus-cash deal with Borussia Dortmund.
The newspaper claims Chelsea have even taken the English striker - linked with Aston Villa and West Ham - off the transfer market, telling his suitors he will not join them, having earmarked him for a move to Germany as part of the Haaland deal.
The London club appear to have made their move already, with reports in Thursday morning claiming they have offered Dortmund one of Abraham or winger Callum Hudson-Odoi in a part exchange transfer for Haaland.
Sky Germany claim the Bundesliga side are determined to hold onto the 20-year-old, especially after losing Jadon Sancho to Manchester United.
However, talk of Chelsea’s willingness to throw the chequebook at Dortmund to sign the striker are not far off the mark, according to talkSPORT’s Bundesliga reporter Kevin Hatchard.
The Germany football expert joined the Sports Bar to offer the latest on the rumours, and said all indications from Germany are that it’s a very real possibility and there's every chance Dortmund could decide to cash-in, if the price is right.
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“Bild are suggesting that Chelsea have been given the go-ahead internally, so Roman Abramovich has said he’s prepared to pay €175m [around £150m] to make that deal happen,” he said.
“Now, Dortmund have been adamant privately and publicly that it’s not something they’re prepared to do.
“But, if that kind of offer came in, that’s then a decision they’re going to have to make.
“So yes, they’ve already sold Jadon Sancho to Manchester United, but if that level of offer came in that would be something they’d have to seriously consider.
“And what it would show, if it’s true, is that Chelsea feel they have the financial muscle to get a jump ahead of the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United who would go for Haaland when the release clause drops in next summer, which is then €75m (£65m), which is a massive gap between the two figures.
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“This is a situation where you would be paying a premium to get him a year earlier than a whole host of clubs all trying to sign him at the same time.
“And how many clubs on the planet can pay that kind of money? Chelsea have shown they are prepared to spend money, they're prepared to do big deals if necessary.
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“The other interesting thing in the report suggested the only way they can make this fly is to let players go, so there would be a number of players on the move from Chelsea.
“One of the players is constantly linked with a move to Germany and a move to Bayern Munich is Callum Hudson-Odoi, and the feeling is that desire to sign him has not wavered.”