Can Erling Haaland be transferred in January after being knocked out of the Champions League?

Everyone wants Erling Haaland.

Everyone needs Haaland, but none more so than Borussia Dortmund.

Last season, the striker finished as the Champions League top scorer.

This season, he has missed three games through injury and Dortmund were ruled out in his absence with a group stage exit confirmed by a 3-1 win over Sporting CP in Lisbon.

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Haaland’s hip problem is expected to avoid him for the rest of the year, but the self-proclaimed machine returned almost two months early to score his 50th Bundesliga goal in his 50th Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg on the 13th, became the youngest and fastest player. achieve that feat.

“He showed a lot of will and worked really hard in rehab to get back,” Dortmund’s first division head Sebastian Kehl told Kicker. “He gave himself a very good feeling and confidence with that performance.

“He made us better in many areas of the game. To challenge Bayern at the highest level, we need him.

“In the last few days we have all felt that he really wants to help the team after the game against Sporting. You have to consider that carefully so that you don’t take too much risk.

“But the training sessions before the game against Wolfsburg went so well that the player, the coach, the doctor and the physiology department made a joint decision as to whether he could play or not. After next week in the session. With practice, he will improve even more physically.”

With Dortmund knocked out of the Champions League, they now face their biggest game of the season in Matchday 14 on December 4, and it’s unlikely Haaland will be without such an important Klassiker.

Beating Bayern Munich at home, Dortmund will be at the top of the Bundesliga. Lose, and they give the Bavarians the chance to go one step further to nearly 10 consecutive championships.

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Domestic competition could be crucial when it comes to persuading the likes of Haaland to stay at Dortmund, especially without a Champions League spot for at least another nine months.

The 21-year-old has a release clause under which he can leave the club next summer for $84 million, but BVB bosses are keen to keep their star player past the year. 2022.

That said, they could be forgiven for spending money on the Norway international in January if it becomes clear that a failure to qualify for the Champions League in the new year will be a problem for Haaland.

Which teams can make a Haaland transfer?

There is a lot of interest in the former Salzburg star, but the transfer fee and additional costs are likely to frustrate a lot of clubs, especially as he will arrive for much cheaper in the short term. six months period.

Real Madrid is Haaland’s preferred destination next summer, but any possible move to Los Blancos depends on what happens to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

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Manchester City are also in need of a striker, and Haaland is seen as the perfect signing after the Premier League champions ended their interest in Harry Kane. However, City have major concerns over transfer costs, with agent Mino Raiola demanding large sums of money for any move, while Haaland will demand a salary worthy of one of the demands. best player in the world.

Reports in Spain indicate that Raiola will want $46 million for any transfer, while Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge, could also ask for up to $23 million, which means with an $84 million release clause, Haaland will have to pay at least $153 million before wages are received. into consideration.

In the long term, Raiola’s influence is also a concern, as any future contract negotiations would require another payout for the agent, as well as a pay rise for the player.

Those financial demands could be a blessing in disguise for Dortmund, with most clubs priced in a move for their star.

Kehl insists that they will do everything they can to keep Haaland, who has a contract at Signal Iduna Park until 2024. One of their plans is to double Haaland’s salary and make him a earner. highest entry at the club, removing the 2022 release clause in the process.

“Of course, we’re trying to give him the feeling that Borussia Dortmund continues to be a top spot for him and he can still grow here,” Kehl told Bild. “Perhaps we can still convince him. We will fight for him. We will try everything. The decision has not been made yet, but I bet 100 euros. [on him staying]. “

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke is even more aggressive when he insists Haaland is not for sale.

Watzke told Sport1: “It has not been decided yet whether he will actually leave in the summer.

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“We’ll just look. I heard someone say, ‘They have to sell Haaland because they’re listed on the stock exchange.” This is purely an uptrend! The decision whether or not someone is sold at our company is made by management and only by management.

“The ball is in Erling’s field. I get along with Mino Raiola because we can judge each other well. I know what makes him appreciate. It’s not right to believe that Raiola is just for the money. He whatever she thinks is the best for Erling.”

Only Haaland knows what is best for Erling, but if Dortmund are to convince him that staying is his priority, the club need to start by beating Bayern and proving that they have the power. leading competitor in Germany.