9am Chelsea transfer news: Blues to submit ‘record fee’ for player, as £50m defender to Choose Chelsea over Arsenal move
According to 90Min, Chelsea are ready to offer Borussia Dortmund up to £150 million for star striker Erling Haaland. The reported offer could be the outcome of prolonged talks between Chelsea and Dortmund in the past weeks, and the belief is that the German side might accept the proposal.
Erling Haaland’s name has been thrown in the mix of Chelsea’s striker targets for a while now. The Norwegian is an expensive prospect, with only Chelsea and a handful of others realistically capable of pulling off a deal for him in the current market where finances have been affected drastically by the pandemic.
However, in recent weeks it has become clear that the Blues could probably be the only club that can afford Haaland, especially in light of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s comments on affordability.
Chelsea are considering Haaland, not just for the reputation he carries, but as a long-term solution up-front. The west Londoners did spend upwards of £120 million on Kai Havertz and Timo Werner last summer but are ready to make room for Haaland as Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham are expected to leave the club.
Giroud is attracting interest from AC Milan, while Abraham has plenty of suitors from England and abroad. And, without a doubt, Haaland would be an instant upgrade on the aforementioned forwards, giving Chelsea a new dimension in their hunt for the Premier League and defence of the Champions League next season.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had been involved in talks with Dortmund over the last few weeks for Haaland. The Blues’ owner is personally interested in making this transfer happen, and thus they are willing to pay huge transfer fees now. Next summer, Haaland will have a £64 million release clause, but the reigning European champions do not want to wait.
Waiting until next year would invite plenty of other teams into the race for the Norwegian, and Chelsea would not want that considering Haaland could readily move to Barcelona or Real Madrid. Additionally, the Blues could also structure the transfer fees now rather than pay the entire release clause next summer.
However, Chelsea would still negotiate the fee with Dortmund and look realistically at £135 million but are prepared to go the distance if need be while structuring the payments in a staggered manner to comply with Financial Fair Play. Apart from the fees, Chelsea will also have to plan the huge outlay over the years on Haaland’s wages, which would be massive. But the Blues are ready to pay what is necessary to get it done.
If signed, Haaland will be a top acquisition for Chelsea, and he could cement his place as the Blues’ No.9 for years to come. His goalscoring record in Austria and Germany is a testament to his talent, and he will make them a fearsome side starting next season should the move go through.
£50m defender to Choose Chelsea over Arsenal move
Noel Whelan insists that Arsenal target Ben White will choose to go to Chelsea if the Blues become serious about their interest in his signature.
After making that move to Brighton just a couple of transfer windows ago, White has developed into a very exciting Premier League defender that all the big clubs are reportedly interested in signing.
It has been reported on many occasions that Arsenal are ready to pay that £50 million asking price and take the Englishman to the Emirates, as they are keen to bolster that back-line.
However, there has also been some talk that Chelsea are ready to swoop in and make him their long-term replacement for Thiago Silva, and have even contacted his agents about whether or not he would be interested in a move to the Bridge, according to reports.
Now Whelan has claimed that he is convinced that White will choose to move to Stamford Bridge if he had the chance, He told Football Insider: “If you give Ben White the option of Arsenal or Chelsea right now, he is going to choose Chelsea because they are playing Champions League football.
“They are the Champions League winners and a club going from strength to strength under Thomas Tuchel. The squad is superior and they are in the Champions League. Right now, Chelsea are ahead in every aspect.
“As a player you have to look at where you would be more successful. Chelsea are one of the top clubs in Europe right now so given the choice, I’m sure White would rather go to Chelsea.”