January's Most Wanted: Haaland to Barca, Madrid or Man Utd?
Stefan Bienkowski
- 3 Jan 2022 09:56 GMT
- 12 min read
Few players in world football have enjoyed as much attention and praise as Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland has over the course of the last two years.
Ever since he made the move to the Bundesliga giants in January 2020, the Norway striker has been nothing short of remarkable, with an impressive tally of 76 goals and 20 assists in just 75 games across all competitions.
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As such, Haaland has acquired a growing list of admirers and could soon be set to break transfer records across Europe. So where will he end up and when will he leave Dortmund?
What is Haaland’s transfer status?
While Haaland may be one of the most sought-after players in all of European football, it’s easy to forget that Dortmund actually have no interest in selling their star striker.
The player is widely reported to have a minimum-fee release clause which may force the Bundesliga side’s hand in the summer, but it’s almost impossible to imagine Dortmund selling Haaland in the January window.
Indeed, even if the club are forced to accept an offer of a certain amount in the summer window, Dortmund fans can expect their club to fight tooth and nail to keep Haaland in the Bundesliga next season.
When does Haaland’s contract expire?
Haaland’s contract at Dortmund doesn’t expire until June 30, 2024. Which means he has just under two and a half years left on his current deal.
What clubs are interested in Haaland?
In truth, it would perhaps be easier and far quicker listing the clubs that are not interested in the Norway international, rather than unravelling the ever-growing list of admirers that hope to sign Haaland one day.
However, while the lives of Liverpool, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the player, there are only a handful of clubs that stand a genuine chance of signing him.
Manchester City have been heavily linked with a move for Haaland and certainly have the finances and sporting success to entice a player of his ambition to the club. Similarly, Manchester United could be an interesting option if Ralf Rangnick can get the Old Trafford club firing on all cylinders.
Despite the promises of riches in England, Haaland’s future is most likely in Spain, where Barcelona and Real Madrid are reportedly the player’s preferred options going forward. Whether the Catalan side can sort out their finances in time to make a move for Haaland remains to be seen, but Madrid certainly can and remain the no.1 contenders for the striker as things stand.
Could Haaland leave in January?
It remains highly unlikely that Haaland will leave Dortmund in January, with the Bundesliga club determined to keep him until the end of the season.
However, if a club were to come in with an offer above and beyond what Dortmund expect to make from Haaland in the summer, the German side may be tempted to cash in six months earlier.
Could Haaland leave in the summer?
As has been reported for some time, Haaland has a release clause in his contract that should allow him to leave this summer for anything between €75-90 million. If that is indeed the case, the Dortmund striker will likely find a viable buyer and move clubs.
However, that doesn’t entirely rule out Haaland deciding to stay at Dortmund next season. The player’s agent and indeed the club itself have routinely pointed out that Haaland thoroughly enjoys playing for the Bundesliga side and Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has stated that the club will try and get the striker to drop the release clause before the end of the season.
If Haaland and his agent are happy to do that, the player’s market value could balloon in size and price out any moves in the summer window.
How old is Haaland?
Haaland was born on July 21, 2000 which makes him 21 years of age.
How much is Haaland currently worth?
As things currently stand, Haaland is worth €103 million and could potentially be signed for between €75-129 million in the January window.
