Chelsea are “working intense to get Erling Haaland”, as per Jan Aage Fjortoft, but Liverpool can hijack their move to sign him if they show the same ambition they did when Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker joined the club.
The journalist claims: “Chelsea working intense to get Erling Haaland. He is seen as the “missing” player to make them challenge for the PL title next season.
“Fee very high, but confidence that this can be solved. The main obstacle could be the wage structure at Chelsea.”
The Blues are an attractive destination following their Champions League triumph over Man City and while I admit that I’m biased, Erling Haaland would surely choose Jurgen Klopp over Thomas Tuchel if it came down to it.
DORTMUND, GERMANY – JANUARY 24: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Scorer Erling Haaland of Dortmund celebrates his teams fourth goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and 1. FC Köln at Signal Iduna Park on January 24, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Lukas Schulze/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images)
Kylian Mbappe is the only player I’d rather see join Liverpool but there’s something about Haaland that makes me think he has the edge over his French counterpart and that’s his mentality.
The former RB Salzburg centre-forward is unbelievably confident in his own abilities and is actually bordering on arrogant, however, if you look at the success Cristiano Ronaldo has had in his career, his self-belief has been crucial to winning everything there is to win in club football.
With Manchester United set to beat Liverpool to Jadon Sancho this summer, Liverpool can’t allow another uber-talented Borussia Dortmund star to join a Premier League rival and if they have serious plans to sign a centre-forward, they should consider hijacking a move to sign Erling Haaland.
He got 41 goals and 12 assists this season and finished as the leading goalscorer in the Champions League – a tournament that he seems to revel in.
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA – DECEMBER 10: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool goes past Erling Haland of Red Bull Salzburg during the UEFA Champions League group E match between RB Salzburg and Liverpool FC at Red Bull Arena on December 10, 2019 in Salzburg, Austria. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
After facing Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in 2020, Haaland said: “Van Dijk. He is so good. He is powerful, quick, he possesses all the qualities. He is an incredible player.”
Having faced him and seen how difficult it is to get past the Dutchman, Haaland might be open to playing alongside van Dijk but for me, the biggest pull that Liverpool have aside from their history and fanbase is the chance to work under Jurgen Klopp.
Both Manchester City and Chelsea missed out on signing van Dijk and it was all because he had his head turned by Klopp and this was before the Reds were a title-winning side with a strong spine of world-class players.
Now, with Alisson, Fabinho, Mohamed Salah and co. in attendance, Klopp has even more sway than before and if the German can find the finances (a massive if to be fair), Liverpool can hijack Chelsea’s move to sign Haaland this summer.
Just like the Blues, however, the main barrier to sign Haaland will be the effect it will have on their wage structure, with the Norwegian reportedly earning £141,000/week but would demand a major pay increase should he secure a marquee move this summer.
Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland (L) and Dortmund’s English midfielder Jadon Sancho pose with the trophy after winning the German Cup (DFB Pokal) final. (Photo by Martin Rose / POOL / AFP)
Chelsea signed Fernando Torres from Liverpool in 2011 and while Stamford Bridge is a more attractive destination right now than Anfield was back then, Liverpool need to show their ambition by bullying the Blues in the transfer market.
I’m more than happy with Jurgen Klopp signing players and turning them into superstars as opposed to signing readymade world beaters but one thing I wish that he would do more is blow the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United away in pursuit of top targets.
Liverpool really struggled in attack this season and a player like Haaland would require very little time to settle in and start destroying Premier League defences and hopefully the Reds can make sure he does it in Red.
