Chelsea in contact with Haaland’s agent and father
Few players across the continent are as in-demand as Borussia Dortmund star Erling Haaland, who has a lengthy list of potential suitors.
Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Chelsea’s Champions League final opponents Manchester City have all been touted as rumoured destinations for the Norwegian sensation.
However, according to caughtoffside, the Blues are the latest club to register their interest in Haaland, making contact with the player’s father as well as his agent, the notorious Mino Raiola.
The race to secure Haaland’s signature sees a new super-club take the lead almost every other day, but Roman Abrahmovic has taken the step of setting up direct communication with those close to the star in a bid to build relations ahead of a potential move.
Borussia Dortmund may be tempted to sell Haaland this summer, given the striker’s release clause drops to £68m in 2022 – significantly lower than the German outfit’s current asking price.
The Blues winning the race for Varane.
Varane has long been one of the most highly-rated central defenders in European football, winning just about every major honour in club football before he’d even hit the age of 25.
Now 28, the French defender is reportedly keen on seeking pastures new, calling time on his ten-year stay at Real Madrid.
According to football.london, Chelsea’s transfer guru Marina Granovskaia is willing to meet the £61m asking price that Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid have slapped on their defensive stalwart.
Though Varane remains one of the best central defenders around, given Real Madrid’s precarious financial situation – that figure may be enough to tempt club president Florentino Perez into accepting his departure.
Chelsea will have to fend off interest from fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United, who also see Varane as the answer to their defensive woes as they search for a long-term ready made partner for Harry Maguire.