RB LEIPZIG will have the chance to sign Erling Haaland for only £25.7million this summer, according to reports in Germany.
Manchester United, Arsenal and several of Europe’s top clubs are battling to sign the Norwegian hotshot but have been quoted a whopping £85m.
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Currently in his first full season at Red Bull Salzburg, all signs point to a summer exit for teenager Haaland.
Joined by his former footballer father Alf-Inge, the striker has visited both United and Arsenal’s training grounds recently to help determine his next club.
But Leipzig are set to get a large helping hand in the race to secure his signature.
Sport Bild report on a cut-price £25.7m fee already stipulated in Haaland’s contract if he wants to hop from one Red Bull owned club to another in the summer.
The ties between Salzburg and Leipzig run deep, from scouting networks and youth systems to the transfers of stars such as Dayot Upamecano, Amadou Haidara and Naby Keita.
Typically, this involves the Bundesliga side taking the best players as part of a well mapped out career development path.
And it is this notion that may prevail with Haaland, who has hit the headlines with seven goals in this year’s Champions League plus four domestic hat-tricks.
It is said the opinion of Alf-Inge is very influential on his 19-year-old son, and that a move to Germany is seen as better for him.
Not only will it provide a higher likelihood of game time, Haaland would also benefit from the more familiar style found in the division.
Still, English clubs and the likes of Real Madrid can hope to tempt the player with a substantially higher wage package than Leipzig can muster.
They may have to act fast though with Die Roten Bullen, currently second in the Bundesliga, talking openly about a summer bid.
General manager Markus Krosche has admitted: “[Haaland] is a very good player. Both in the league and in the Champions League, he does an exceptionally good job.
“Of course we are already looking around for the summer.”
