KEY POINTS

  • Fabrizio Romano said he never mentioned Erling Haaland's move to Chelsea
  • Haaland has scored five goals this season
  • He has a release clause of $82 million at Dortmund

Notable journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has a credible record in breaking transfer news, rubbished rumors involving Erling Haaland and Chelsea on Thursday.

Many media outlets recently quoted Romano saying Chelsea have made Haaland their primary striker target for next summer.

Reacting to those reports, Romano tweeted, "I just said that Haaland will have a release clause and will be interested to see what happens next summer. But I’ve never mentioned Chelsea. My news is free on my social media accounts and I NEVER mentioned Haaland to Chelsea."

Haaland, who joined Borussia Dortmund from RB Salzburg during the 2020 January transfer window, has a release clause of $82 million, but the Norwegian striker is contracted with the Bundesliga side until 2024.

Haaland’s agent Mino Raiola inserted a release clause in the player’s contract when he joined Dortmund. The young striker can leave the club in 2022 should any club match his hefty release clause.

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea raided the German league at the recently ended summer window as they spent over $150 million to sign two German strikers. Chelsea signed Kai Havertz for $90 million from Bayern Leverkusen and they acquired the signatures of Timo Werner when Liverpool FC withdrew from the transfer at the last minute because of the playmaker’s transfer fee of $61 million at RB Leipzig.

The 20-year-old Haaland has been in an exceptional form since he snubbed Manchester United to join Dortmund earlier this year. Before making the switch, Haaland had already netted 28 goals in 22 competitive games. He further bettered his 2019-20 season tally by scoring another 16 goals in 18 appearances for Dortmund. In the ongoing 2020-21 campaign, the young striker has struck five goals in as many matches for the Signal Iduna Park side.

Dortmund's Norwegian teen Erling Braut Haaland became the first player to score a hat-trick off the bench on his Bundesliga debut in January.
Dortmund's Norwegian teen Erling Braut Haaland became the first player to score a hat-trick off the bench on his Bundesliga debut in January. AFP / THOMAS KIENZLE

It was earlier reported that Jurgen Klopp has identified Haaland as a long-term replacement for struggling Roberto Firmino at Liverpool. Klopp may trigger Haaland’s release clause as he is looking to change his tactics on the pitch. The more physical presence of Haaland could provide a fresh approach to the current Liverpool attack that is nearly exposed to some of their opponents. Haaland’s lethal game could also aid the wingers, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah.

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