Erling Haaland done deal
Erling Haaland has completed a transfer to Borussia Dortmund and has snubbed Manchester United and Juventus in the process. The 19-year-old joins from Red Bull Salzburg and is widely regarded as one of the hottest prospects in European football.
Haaland has been in stunning form this season, netting 28 goals and providing seven assists in all competitions.
Dortmund were delighted to seal the signing of the teenager ahead of the likes of United and Juventus who had both been touted to battle for his signature in January.
“Despite many offers from absolute top clubs from all over Europe, Erling Haaland decided on the sporting task at BVB and the perspective that we have shown him. Our tenacity has paid off,” said Borussia Dortmund’s CEO, Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Sports director Michael Zorc, who led the negotiations, added: “We can all look forward to an ambitious, athletic and physically strong center forward with a pronounced goal instinct and impressive speed, which we would like to develop further in Dortmund. At the age of 19, Erling is of course just beginning a hopefully great career!”
Arsenal considering bid
Arsenal and Tottenham are set for a bidding war over RB Leipzig star defender Dayot Upamecano. Express Sport understands that the Gunners and Spurs are willing to meet Leipzig’s whopping £50million valuation for Upamecano ahead of the January transfer window to strengthen their respective defences as they eye a top-four finish.
The centre-back has been outstanding at Leipzig over the past couple of seasons in the Bundesliga as well as the Champions League and has also been targeted by Manchester City.
City are in dire need of quality in defence after failing to replace legendary captain Vincent Kompany in the summer and losing Aymeric Laporte to injury soon after.
Arsenal’s backline has also been in disarray throughout the campaign as the north Londoners’ centre-back pairing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and David Luiz has been performing far below the level required.
Jadon Sancho to Chelsea update
Chelsea are favourites to spend a whopping £120million fee for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho. Express Sport understands that the Blues are willing to splash out the largest fee in the history of the January transfer window for Sancho who has been tremendously impressive in the Bundesliga over the past two years.
The Stamford Bridge outfit are set to do business next month after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) halved the club’s transfer ban.
FIFA slapped the Londoners with a two-window transfer penalty in February due to rules breaches regarding the signing of young players.
After being omitted from the summer transfer window, Chelsea are set to return to doing business in the New Year as manager Frank Lampard has received a transfer kitty worth £150million by owner Roman Abramovich.
And the Blues are now likely to spend a significant sum that would also amount to a club record fee for Sancho, who has been in impressive form this season with a total of 12 goals and 13 assists in 24 matches.
Lampard is understood to be very keen on the winger and rates him as the right man to fill in the void left by Eden Hazard’s departure to Real Madrid in the summer.
Liverpool transfer exclusive
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is stepping up his interest in Lille hitman Victor Osimhen after ordering detailed scouting reports. Klopp is keen on the Nigerian international, who has already scored 13 goals in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side so far this season.
Osimhen only joined Lille in July after they sold Pepe to Arsenal and was named Ligue 1 Player of the Month in October.
He scored 20 goals for Belgian side Charleroi, on loan from Wolfsburg, last season and has continued in the same rich vein of form in this campaign.
Klopp is looking to bolster his striking options especially as Mohamed Salah isn’t as deadly in front of goal as he was two seasons ago.
Salah, who has been linked with Real Madrid, scored 44 goals in his first season at Anfield then 27 in all competitions last season and has managed 13 so far in this campaign.
Several Premier League clubs have taken a look at Osimhen who has scored four goals in nine appearances for the Super Eagles.
Lille accept that it is only a matter of time before they will be forced to cash in on Osimhen but would like to keep him at the Stade Pierre Mauroy until the summer.
