Haaland to Real Madrid: 'Only one rival for Dortmund star'

Robin Bairner

• 3 Mar 2022 11:28 GMT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid will only have one rival to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, according to a report from Spain.

Haaland is a figure set to dominate football transfer news in the coming months as the release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract comes into effect.

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The Norway international will be allowed to depart BVB for €75 million, and while that does not include payments to his agent or wages, as a transfer fee it is still considered to be a bargain price.

Clubs from all over Europe have been attracted to Haaland’s case as a result, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and several Premier League outfits all positioning themselves to sign the 21-year-old.

Dortmund, meanwhile, want to tie the forward down to a new deal with a more generous release fee from their perspective, though this appears to be a fading prospect.

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El Chiringuito, however, has said that there is only one serious rival to Real Madrid in the Haaland case.

Speaking on Tuesday, Josep Pedrerol stated: “Real Madrid know that Erling Haaland wants to play for them and believes that their only rival to sign him is Manchester City, not FC Barcelona. Real Madrid will go after him.”

How close is Haaland to Real Madrid?

While it is a logical time to strike for Haaland this summer given his low fee, Real Madrid have also set their eyes upon Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe, who is available on a Bosman deal.

Although the Bernabeu side’s finances are in a better state than Barcelona’s, there is doubt over whether they can finance a deal for both players, particularly as it will be complicated getting the duo within the wage budgets outlined by La Liga. Mbappe and Haaland will both command astronomical salaries.

Furthermore, it would be a surprise that if PSG were to lose Mbappe, they had no interest in Haaland at all.

Nevertheless, given the player's love of Spain, Real Madrid do appear to be clear favourites to sign him at present.

This is a transfer story that is bound to take numerous twists before it is finally decided.