Chelsea prepared to break transfer record to win race for Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Chelsea are reportedly prepared to break their transfer record this summer in order to win the race to sign Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland.

Haaland is arguably the most exciting young player in world football right now and looks set to attract the interest of Europe’s leading clubs during the summer, with Real Madrid and both Manchester clubs amongst those monitoring his situation.

The 20-year-old burst onto the scene with Red Bull Salzburg last season before signing for Dortmund during last year’s January transfer window, his reputation having only enhanced after scoring 35 goals in just 35 appearances in all competitions.

Chelsea spent lavishly during the summer with owner Roman Abramovich investing more than £220m on a host of marquee additions, though the Blues’ spending looks set to continue as they bid to compete with the best sides in Europe.

According to The Athletic, Chelsea are determined to land a new centre-forward next summer and are prepared to break their transfer record – the £72m paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Kai Havertz – in order to win the race for Haaland.

The Norway international has a release clause in his contract of €75m (£66.6m) though this will not become active until the summer of 2022, and Chelsea are keen to move ahead of the competition and take advantage of Dortmund’s pandemic-impacted finances by making a big-money bid this summer.

Chelsea have made the signing of a new centre-forward their priority with Olivier Giroud out-of-contract at the end of the season, whilst neither Tammy Abraham or Timo Werner have yet shown they can be the main spearhead of a side seeking to challenge for the game’s biggest prizes.

The latter extended his run without a Premier League goal to 10 games during the 1-0 win at Fulham on Saturday, though the west London outfit are understood to retain ‘confidence’ in the summer signing from Leipzig and believe Haaland will compliment, rather than replace, the Germany international.

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