What follows for Erling Haaland?After a weekend in which the 21 -year striker of Borussia Dortmund told Viaplay that he was pressured by his club to "make a decision soon" about his future, it is very likely that one of the best players in the worldmoves over the next months.
The Norwegian international is one of the most wanted players in world football after having scored 79 goals in 78 games since arriving in Dortmund from FC Salzburg for 20 million euros in 2019.All the great clubs in Europe want to sign it and, with an alleged termination clause of 75 million euros that will enter into force in 2022, the clubs are circling to reach an agreement with their agent, Mino Raiola, and his father, Alf-Inge.So what are your possible destinations?
First, we ask the ESPN resident scout what he thinks about the next Haaland club.
Something that could ultimately influence his decision are the idols he had as a boy."He was born a front center and always worshiped the players who scored many goals, but two in particular: Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo," said his father, Alf-Inge, Tuttosport in 2020."He also had a weakness for Mario Balotelli in Manchester City.He is never constantly satisfied and trains because he wants to be the best.He is super focused and lives for football ".
With that in mind, several ESPN writers analyzed Haaland's options in the passes market, Club by Club.
Real Madrid (Alex Kirkland)
PROS: Madrid is interested in Haaland and has the financial capacity to close an agreement.The 200 million euros that were willing to spend on Kylian Mbappé last summer continue to weigh in their pocket, and the exits of Gareth Bale, Isco and Marcelo-more Eden Hazard, if possible-will open a lot of space in the doughwage.The president of Madrid, Florentino Pérez, wants a young and exciting team to shine in the recently renewed Santiago Bernabéu, and Haaland meets the requirements to be one of his stars, while learning from the incredible Karim Benzema.
Cons.The rest of the passes are secondary.It is not clear how Haaland would feel if he has to share attention with the France striker, or even play a secondary role at this stage of his career.Madrid also believes that Manchester City is well positioned to compete in the race by Haaland.
Possibilities of joining: 7/10
Manchester City (Mark Ogden)
Pros: The benefit of moving to Etihad is that he could play with Pep Guardiola in a league that would test his credentials and, ultimately, would make him a better player.Haaland has demonstrated his worth in the Bundesliga, and now he needs to move to the next level playing in the Premier League.Although the strength of clubs such as Liverpool and Chelsea means that a trophy for City cannot be guaranteed, it is approaching a domain similar to Bayern's way to a fourth title in five seasons, so it is a club that can offer an almost success guaranteed.In addition, City creates abundant occasions and a prolific front center would prosper with them.
Cons: City has been without a usual front center for almost 18 months (Sergio Agüero started in just seven league games in his last season before leaving Barcelona last summer) last summer).His game style, with up to six selected attack players in some games, means that they do not need a classic nine to score decisive goals.With Haaland, City would have to change your approach to take advantage of your strengths, or continue like this and you adapt your game.No option is bad (Haaland would also score goals), but it could be more suitable for a team that wants a front center as a focal point.
Guardiola demands that their strikers be multidimensional, feel comfortable with the ball and be able to fit into a fluid system, so adapting would be a challenge.In addition, if you take with City, Haaland can forget his dream of playing throughout Europe in some of the most historical clubs.City does not let his best players leave, so he would have to dedicate the best years of his career to the club.
Possibilities of joining: 7/10
Barcelona (Sam Marsden)
Pros: There is no doubt that Barcelona wants Haaland, and President Joan Laporta met very publicly with Raiola and the father of the striker last year.Barça post Lionel Messi's lack of goals has been painfully evident this season-they only twice in six Champions League games and were eliminated in the group stage-but the need for a new nine precedes the exit of Messi.Haaland is not only seen as a player who scores goals, but as someone who would boost a club under construction.It would be a signing, like Ronaldinho's in the first presidency of Laporta, to lead the team on the court and improve his image in the world.
Cons: While Barça's need for fire power is evident, there is hope that the signing of 55 million euros by Ferran Torres and the return of Ansu Fati of an injury changes their luck in attack.With that in mind, would it be prudent to invest so much money in a striker, when you already have a debt of 1400 million euros and lagoons in defense?Gerard Piqué will soon turn 35, while Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti are being pushed into the exit door.In addition, despite Haaland's incredible trajectory with Dortmund, he does not have the guaranteed triumph at Camp Nou.There is an increasingly long list of expensive signings that did not adapt to Barça, headed by Ibrahimovic and including the newly left Antoine Griezmann and Philippe Coutinho.
Possibilities of joining: 6/10
Bayern Munich (Tom Hamilton)
Pros: Haaland could have more chances of winning the Bundesliga and the Champions League with Bayern, while he would also have the possibility of working under the command of the coveted young coach, Julian Nagelsmann.The Bavarian are admirers of the striker and sources of ESPN claim that there were preliminary conversations between the club and its agent.However, there are pros and cons with respect to the idea of accompanying the elite striker who is already in Bayern, Robert Lewandowski.Lewandowski could be a great teacher for him, without a doubt.In addition, if the Polish captain decides to leave at the end of the season (with a contract until 2023), Haaland would be the successor ready to enter.
Cons: but Lewandowski, 33, has not finished its mission yet.If your contract stays and extends, Bayern could have problems when both scorers enter their system.Being a long -term substitute does not go with Haaland's short -term plans."We have Robert Lewandowski.He will score 30-40 goals for a few more years, "said Bayern CEO, Oliver Kahn, when the year started.Bayern, in addition, probably cannot match the salaries that other teams could offer him, while Haaland's loyalty with Dortmund can become such that he ends up denying to join one of his rivals.In addition, it has already shown that it is a star in the Bundesliga and surely prefer a new challenge.Maybe Bayern can be a better option later in his career, taking into account the wishes of the Bundesliga giants to keep Lewandowski.
Possibilities of joining: 6/10
Manchester United (Rob Dawson)
Pros: Manchester United wanted to sign Haaland when he left FC Salzburg and will be in the row waiting for him when the time of his move arrives.If they add it, they would get one of the best young strikers in the world - the kind of talent that could inspire a new era of successes.As for Haaland, he would instantly become the main actor of one of the main clubs of this sport.There are not many who can equate the financial power of United or do more for a player's profile.And, in addition, two of his idols, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic, have played there.
Cons.Old Trafford is still attractive to Top players, but Haaland has made it clear that he wants to win trophies, and United has not been close to winning the Premier League since 2013, while the last time they reached the final of the Champions League was in 2011.There are many possibilities that United is not even in the Champions League next campaign and any Norwegian connection that could have felt with its former mold coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, now has disappeared with the dismissal of Solskjaer.
Possibilities of joining: 5/10
Paris Saint-Germain (Julien Laurens)
Pros: Haaland could be a very good replacement of Mbappé if the latter leaves, and without a doubt it would stand out next to Messi and Neymar as part of a new devastating front trio in Paris.As for most players, the possibility of playing next to Messi (who will turn 35 in June) would be attractive, although Cristiano has been his idol.Paris, as a city and as a club, is also very attractive to the Haaland brand.Your agent, Raiola, knows the place very well and already represents some of the players in the team.In addition, either with Mauricio Pochettino or Zinedine Zidane in command, Haaland would be one of the favorites to win the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or.
Cons.Going to LaLiga or the Premier League could be more attractive because they are larger leagues, with greater followers and more money, especially in England.The post-mbapé era on PSG can become difficult to drive, considering the greats that will be the shoes that would leave empty.And with Messi and Neymar still in the club, he will not be the most important star, especially at the beginning of his career there.
Possibilities of joining: 5/10
Chelsea (James Olley)
PROS: There are not many clubs capable of overcoming Chelsea in terms of financial package, if they wanted to make an offer.Living in London is an obvious attraction, as well as the ruthless attitude of the club when it goes through the trophies.The blues have one of the best coaches in the world in Thomas Tuchel and their status as European champions offers a genuine hope of more successes ahead.
Cons: two words: Romelu Lukaku.ESPN reported at the time that Chelsea wanted to make a move by Haaland before signing Lukaku for € 115m of Inter Milan this summer, but it was very difficult to close the agreement in those circumstances.It was also suggested that Haaland was not entirely convinced to make a move to England.But, anyway, Lukaku's presence in Stamford Bridge at this time makes a Haaland pass there highly unlikely.Lukaku should leave - a prospect that is not impossible taking into account the controversial interview last month in which he talked about a return to Italy - before you can seriously talk about any agreement.
Possibilities of joining: 4/10
Juventus (Andrew Cesare Richardson)
Pros: Although it is an unlikely destiny for Haaland, Juventus always has to appear in the conversation when we talk about a pass that involves a player represented by Raiola, having signed many of his clients in the past, such as Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba,Blaise Matuidi and Matthijs de Ligt.Haaland adding to Juve would be in a situation similar to the one in Dortmund: it will be clear that his stay would be temporary, but he would continue to improve, scoring goals and, potentially, even competing for large trophies.
Cons.Juve simply does not have the money to compete, either for a transfer or salary.Moreover, Haaland probably wants to add to a team that is competing for the important trophies and that is not the case of Juventus at this time.Despite having hired Massimilian.Juve's hopes to sign Haaland could have to wait for the most advanced stages of his career and see if they can tempt it with a free pass.
Possibilities of joining: 1/10
Stay in Dortmund (Tom Hamilton)
Pros: While Haaland was a sensation in FC Salzburg, Dortmund's movement drove him to a different stratosphere in the world of football and is worshiped by the famous "yellow wall" of the Westfalensstadion.Staying one more season in BVB will only intensify interest in him, while he would give one more year to his favorite options to reinforce his finances hit by the pandemic and offer more money.The club will try to convince Haaland to sign a new agreement - one that eliminates or at least increases the amount of its € 75m recision clause."We are trying to convince Erling to continue playing with Dortmund, and I think we have many chances that that happens," said the director, Sebastian Kehl, earlier this month."There are more reasons why Haaland is in very good hands in Dortmund and for which we, as a club, can continue to be a very good option for him".
Cons: Dortmund may have burned all bridges when pressing it.The sincere statement of Haaland suggested that it was frustrated by the way in which the club had handled the situation and is likely to offer monstrous offers with which they will not be able to compete.Maybe also feel that it is time to make a move and try on another league.To six Bayern points on the top of the Bundesliga, and eliminated from the Champions League in the group stage, Dortmund's chances of reaching a cup this year are very low.
Possibilities of joining: 5/10
