Dortmund chief publicly names Erling Haaland destination and cites Arsenal transfer as major pointer
Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke has effectively conceded defeat in his side’s battle to keep Erling Haaland this summer, having revealed the side he expects the powerful Norway striker to sign for.
The 21-year-old has carved out a reputation as one of the deadliest strikers in world football. After announcing himself with RB Salzburg, where he scored 29 goals in 27 games, he has hugely enhanced his reputation at the Westfalenstadion. As things stand, his fearsome scoring record shows Haaland has amassed an incredible 80 goals in 82 games. Some going!
As such, it’s little wonder to see a plethora of clubs casting admiring glances Dortmund’s way.
Indeed, the likes of Real Madrid, PSG, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool have all been credited with an interest at various times.
However, the loudest whispers in recent months have, most certainly, come from Manchester City. To that end, reports in Germany recently claimed a deal was as good as done for City.
As per the report, they state that City will have no issue triggering the £63m exit clause that comes into effect this summer.
And while some doubt has been cast over all the extra costs, including his mammoth wages and agents’ fees – it seems a move to Manchester City looks a foregone conclusion.
Now, speaking out on Haaland’s future, Watzke admits BVB are powerless to compete with some of financial power of City.
Furthermore, he sees echoes of Haaland’s potential sale to City akin to Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s transfers to Bayern Munich and Arsenal, respectively.
“Erling Haaland? We still know nothing from player’s side,” he told Bild. “But we know that we won’t be able to keep up financially if Manchester City come.
“It already happened with [Robert] Lewandowski to Bayern [Munich] and [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang to Arsenal.”
Dortmund, as Watzke points out, have a history of losing their top stars down the years.
Even in recent times, the likes of Jadon Sancho, Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic have all moved for significant profits. Historically, you can point to Mario Gotze.
The mastery for Dortmund though is in always the succession plan – and the next star to make it big. Jude Bellingham is already well down the line in that regards.
With Haaland likely to depart, next on their agenda is a likely deal for Karim Adeyemi.
The 20-year-old has been making ways this season with RB Salzburg. As such, it’s little surprise to see Dortmund looking to follow a similar route that they did with Haaland.
Erling Haaland fees stacking up for City
That said, there remains some way to go before City can finalise a fee.
As well as his £63m exit fee, there are reports that his agent, Mino Raiola, and father, Alf Inge Haaland, are due a huge additional payment.
To that end, City will need to spend an additional £37m on the fee, taking the deal closer to a much fatter £100m.
In addition, the Daily Star claims the entire package for Haaland will ultimately cost City £300m over five years.
Demanding wages of £630,000 a week, Haaland will reportedly cost a staggering £33m per year. Over a five year deal, that would take City’s total outlay closer to the £300m mark.
If trure, that would see Haaland pocket an astromical £165m in wages over a five-year deal.
Even by City’s standards, that is quite the financial burden and one they may even need to think twice about.
Meanwhile, a chat with Arsenal star Martin Odegaard may yet prove pivotal in deciding Haaland’s next club.
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