Transfer alternatives
Chelsea like the look of two of the Bundesliga’s finest marksmen as cheaper possible choices to Haaland
CHELSEA could turn to Stuttgart’s Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic as an alternative to Erling Haaland this summer. The Stamford Bridge club are in talks with Borussia Dortmund over the £170 million-rated (RM982m) Norway international striker, and have offered players in exchange.
But the Bundesliga side are at the moment adamant that Haaland is not for sale this summer.
He is available at less than half his price next year due to a release clause in his contract but Dortmund still remain defiant
they will not part ways with the Norwegian in the current market.
That’s after agreeing to sell another vital attacker, Jadon Sancho, to Manchester United in a £78m (RM450m) deal earlier in the window.
Chelsea are also interested in Bayern Munich’s prolific Poland striker Robert Lewandowski as an alternative, but he would cost around £50m (RM289m).
Lewandowski has two years left on his deal in Bavaria and Bayern are also adamant that they are not selling a key player who will in any case be 33 today.
Kalajdzic, 24, played all four of Austria’s games at Euro 2020 and found the back of the net in the extra time defeat to Italy in the round of 16.
The towering frontman scored 17 goals last season for Stuttgart and would cost around £34m (RM196m), and has come on to the radar of Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel as a player who might be gettable this summer.
Chelsea are also looking at the surprise signing of former Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli as a free agent after he was released by the Craven Cottage club last month.
The Blues are looking at Bettinelli as a back-up goalkeeper after Willy Caballero’s departure. The 29year-old is though also being chased by Championship side Birmingham.
Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher, meanwhile, is in talks with
Newcastle over a season long-loan deal.
Gallagher, 21, spent last season on loan at West Brom where he impressed despite the club being relegated.
Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira is also interested in the England under-21 star, who has also had loan spells at Charlton and Swansea.
The west Londoners look set to loan Gallagher out again with competition for places in midfield under Tuchel fierce.
The European champions have not made a signing so far this summer but have loaned out Billy Gilmour to Norwich as well as agreeing permanent exits for Fikayo Tomori, Marc Guehi, Olivier Giroud, Victor Moses.
Chelsea have raised around £50m (RM289m) through sales
so far and have several other first-team players who could still depart Stamford Bridge before the window closes. – Express
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