Transfer Rumors: Real Madrid's Interest In Erling Haaland Confirmed By Borussia Dortmund CEO

News regarding the upcoming winter transfer window in January is starting to heat up, and the latest on the list is Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland.

Citing a report from German outlet Bild.de, Goal reported that Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke revealed that Real Madrid is greatly interested in acquiring Haaland as soon as possible.

“All I know is that Real Madrid is very interested in him. I could name 25 others now, but with Real [Madrid] I know for sure. I think he would fit in better in Spain. A different kind of football is played in England. I am not so skeptical that he will stay with us,” Watzke told Bild.de as quoted by Goal.

The revelation comes after Haaland did a supposed lap of honor around Borussia Dortmund’s home stadium of Signal Iduna Park (also known as Westfalenstadion) after their victory over Greuther Furth last Wednesday, December 15.

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc was piqued with the transfer-linked Haaland’s gestures after the club's 3-2 loss at Hertha this past weekend since it looked like he was saying his farewells to the club that signed him in the winter window of the 2019-20 season.

“I saw the pictures afterwards too. It looked a bit strange, but I don't think it was a deliberate action. I spoke to him again briefly, and that's not an issue in the team either. What is this? I asked him. Nothing at all, he said. That settles the matter,” Zorc told Sky Sports via Goal.

Haaland is one of the most transfer-linked players throughout this season as clubs throughout Europe have been pining for his signature, most notably with Manchester City who sought to leverage their connection with Puma to entice him to join them.

The highly-touted 21-year-old Norwegian has his contract with Borussia Dortmund expiring in the summer of 2024 with a reported €75 million ($84 million) release clause that is set to activate in the summer of 2022.

It remains to be seen which clubs will be most active in the January window in trying to acquire the world-class striker with Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea among the clubs most interested in signing him.

Renowned transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed that Haaland's agent Mino Raiola does not have any pre-agreements with any club and that they will be open to all possibilities, even staying for another year with Borussia Dortmund.