Liverpool have been urged to make a move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland by former Kop icon Steve McManaman.
Haaland – who has long been liked with with a move to Manchester United and Manchester City – is set to become available for a modest £64m in the summer of 2022 due to a release clause in his contract coming into play.
The Norway superstar is one of the most in-demand players this season – given he has scored 13 goals already in 10 games during the 2021-2022 campaign.
Haaland has a number of potential suitors in Europe with Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus and Real Madrid all linked with moves for him.
However, according to widespread reports, Dortmund have an arrangement with the forward that a £64m (€75m) release can be activated in the summer of 2022, and McManaman feels his former club Liverpool should immediately capitalise.
McManaman believes Jurgen Klopp’s side should take this golden opportunity to get an elite level player at well under market value and move for Haaland in the January transfer window – if they can make a deal work financially at all ends.
He told HorseRacing.net: ‘If Liverpool have the money then they’re better off going for Haaland because he’s already proven and it will be worth it in the long run.
‘Some young players play well over a short period and then all of a sudden they’re worth £50m, when their true value is £15m. It’s the selling club trying to make as much as possible out of a player.’
However, Dortmund are reluctant to part ways with their striker. The club’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently told the German Publication Welt am Sonntag: ‘Of course it will be difficult [to keep him].
‘I am not saying, however, that it is completely out of the question. We’ll do everything we can to keep our top players loyal to us in the future.’
After the club’s 2-1 victory over Besiktas in the Champions League last week, the Dortmund boss Marco Rose was also asked if it would be possible to keep Haaland and England youngster Jude Bellingham.
He said: ‘The two boys are currently players with us. We are happy to have them and anything else is just rumours. In the summer, we will see how it goes for both players.
‘But I will do everything to ensure they stay. Tie them down (to new contracts)? No idea (what the future holds), let’s see.’
In the case where Dortmund is forced to sell Haaland next summer, Watzke has assured the Dortmund faithful that they will find a replacement and added: ‘We have to have the self-confidence to say we’ll find a new top striker again.’
Leave a Reply