Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will ultimately decide whether the club signs Erling Haaland this summer or not, according to reports.
Haaland is Chelsea’s top striker target in this window. The Blues have already sold Olivier Giroud and are open to letting Tammy Abraham leave the club.
Borussia Dortmund are not keen on selling Haaland, though, and it would take an offer of over £150million to make them consider his exit.
Chelsea are attempting to beat other top clubs to the Norwegian’s signature who cannot afford to sign him until his release clause becomes active in the summer of 2022.
Haaland’s release clause could be as little as half the price Dortmund have quoted in this window.
So Chelsea know this could be their best chance to bring the striker to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on Reach PLC’s Transfer Window podcast, Duncan Castles says Abramovich is the main force behind Chelsea’s interest.
And he claims any deal hangs on the will of the Russian to get it done.
Castles said: “I think it depends on the level to which Roman Abramovich, and it is Roman Abramovich driving this deal, is prepared to go to sign Haaland.
“As we’ve discussed on a number of occasions, what Chelsea are doing here is trying to take the opportunity to beat clubs that probably Haaland would prefer to go to, who are interested in taking Haaland this summer because Chelsea have the capital available through their owner to get to a figure that Dortmund can’t afford to say no to.
“Dortmund’s position is they won’t sell this summer and they’ve been briefing that quite extensively.
“They will of course lose a significant amount if they retain Haaland for an extra year because there is a release clause in his contract for next summer set at €75m.
“Refusing Chelsea’s money is going to be a loss to them which they have to play off against what Haaland can provide for them on the field.”
Castles’ podcast co-host Ian McGarry says Chelsea have offered Timo Werner to be part of the Haaland transfer but Dortmund only want a straight cash deal.
McGarry said: “It is our understanding that Timo Werner was offered as part of a deal for Haaland, therefore obviously negating part of the fee in terms of the quite substantial amount Dortmund are quoting for Haaland, in excess of €150m at this point.
“I’m told that Werner, unlike [Kai] Havertz, has not adapted well to life in England.
“He has not assimilated himself necessarily very well, he’s quite an introverted character, Havertz is quite extrovert. It just hasn’t happened for him.
“I’m told that Dortmund want cash only.”