Erling Haaland has a new potential destination next summer in Liverpool according to new reports.
The Reds’ interest is not a surprise as the striker is the hottest property in world football currently. However, their move for the Norwegian is being influenced by one of their own, Mohamed Salah, who is reported to have made this transfer request to the club’s hierarchy.
Mohamed Salah is currently discussing a contract extension at Anfield and one of his conditions is the strengthening of the Liverpool squad with the Borussia Dortmund man.
After two seasons with the club, Haaland’s contract buyout clause of €75 million will come into effect in June 2022. Many clubs including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Manchester City and Juventus will be expected to try and outbid each other for Haaland’s signature.
Sky Deutschland now claims that Salah has asked Liverpool to beef up their squad in order to make the team even more competitive in the future, and is pointing at Haaland as an option.
Hence, Liverpool have now inserted themselves in the race for the 21-year-old former Red Bull Salzburg man and are leading it – together with PSG who could be losing star man Kylian Mbappe this summer – as they seek to make Mohamed Salah happy.
Jurgen Klopp was asked if Liverpool had any interest in Haaland back in August. “Sooner or later, [Haaland] will be on the agenda of the big clubs,” Klopp told Bild, who asked him the question at an interview.
“I don’t know if it will be next year, but Dortmund will have to face it. I don’t have his phone number. He is just a very interesting player. I like his energy, but he will be observed by most teams.”
Liverpool, however, do not have the financial capabilities as many of the clubs in the race for the striker, but they are reportedly willing to do what they can to pull off the signing for the sake of Mo Salah’s contract signing.
Liverpool urged to let go of Salah for Haaland instead
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been urged to allow Salah to leave Anfield to be able to secure the funds needed to bring Haaland to Anfield in his stead.
His buyout clause of €75 million is a bargain in comparison to the market valuation of Salah himself. The Egyptian, 29, is going to be on the wrong side of 30 by the end of his current contract and Andy Goldstein of talkSPORT has urged the Reds to cash in on Salah right now for the long-term option of Haaland.
Salah and Haaland’s form in front of goal has been comparable since the young striker rose to prominence in 2018 with Salzburg. However, while Age is on Haaland’s side to keep going, Salah could be fading out soon, per Goldstein.
Speaking on talkSPORT Drivetime, he said: “Mohamed Salah is one of, if not the best player in the world right now. There’s no doubt about that.
“But Haaland’s 21, Salah’s 29. Apart from Messi and Ronaldo, it’s very rare you get a player that when they become the best player in the world, they stay there for a long, long time – like Luka Modric.
“I don’t think Salah will continue these numbers… for him to continue this as he gets older is going to be very difficult… I’d say it’s a no-brainer.”
Salah, however, wants to retire at Liverpool. “If you ask me, I would love to stay until the last day of my football career, but I can’t say much about that – it’s not in my hands,” Salah told Sky Sports earlier in the season.
“It depends on what the club want, not on me.
“At the moment I can’t see myself ever playing against Liverpool. That would make me sad. It’s hard, I don’t want to talk about it, but it would make me really sad.
“At the moment I don’t see myself playing against Liverpool but let’s see what will happen in the future.”
