Potential shirt numbers available to Erling Haaland if he completes his £100m Chelsea transfer
According to reports, Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland ahead of the summer.
However, according to The Athletic, Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has earmarked Haaland as her and the Blues’ main target for the summer despite the striker’s release clause of £66.6million not coming into force until the summer of 2022.
Not that a move would be straightforward amid interest from a number of other clubs, namely Real Madrid who, reports claim, the 20-year-old would rather join.
However, What squad numbers could be available to Haaland if he was to make the move to Stamford Bridge this summer?
Unfortunately for Haaland, his current number – number nine – is taken by Tammy Abraham, but there is an attractive number 8 currently vacant.
The next lowest number is 12 and there are no further numbers available until number 25. Haaland hasn’t worn any of those available numbers, but he has worn the available number 30.
The Norwegian wore number 30 for three seasons at Molde before switching to number 17 and then number nine at Borussia Dortmund.
For his country, he wears number 23, a number currently occupied by talented youngster Billy Gilmour, but the Scot himself could be promoted to number eight, vacating a number Haaland is familiar with.
Besides 30, numbers 26, 27, 31 and 32 are available, and then beyond Emerson Palmieri’s 33, it’s pretty much a free choice as we move into the higher and usually less attractive numbers, unless you have a Ronaldinho’s at AC Milan-esc wild streak.
Of course, a lot could change when it comes to squad numbers in the summer with departures and other incomings, namely Olivier Giroud – who is currently number 18 – and Willy Caballero (currently 13) who are both out of contract this summer and set to leave the club as things stand,
But one thing is for sure – Tammy Abraham is not likely to give up Haaland’s preferred number nine without a fight.