Newcastle United must double their club-record transfer fee to sign Erling Haaland as the striker does not have a release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract, according to AS.
The Magpies are seeking to strengthen with superstars in upcoming windows following the £305m Saudi-led takeover at St James’ Park. But their first task will be avoiding relegation.
Eddie Howe keeping his new Toon side above the drop will make Tyneside a much more attractive destination. Yet will not stop clubs from holding out for mammoth sums to sell.
That would be the case with Borussia Dortmund if Newcastle were to pursue a transfer for Haaland. Who AS recently claimed the Toon, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring ahead of potential 2022 swoops.
Despite reports touting a €75m (£63m) release clause in the Norway striker’s contract, AS claim otherwise. Instead, they note Haaland’s agent, Mino Raiola, has a verbal agreement with Borussia Dortmund to facilitate his departure at the end of the current season.
Without the alleged release clause, BVB would want €100m (£84m) to sell the 21-year-old. More than double the club-record £40m Newcastle paid Hoffenheim for Joelinton in 2019.
A tidy profit for a player BVB signed for just €20m (£17m). While Haaland will also demand an eye-watering wage to leave Borussia Dortmund, amid transfer interest from Newcastle.
AS claim Haaland’s camp have reiterated he wants a project that will lead to titles and take him closer to the Balon d’Or. But will demand a €25m five-year contract (£400k-a/w) after tax. Slightly less than the £30m-a-year (£576k-a/w) that ESPN recently claimed he desires.
Newcastle face a £294m fee for transfer of Borussia Dortmund star Haaland
So, all in, Newcastle face a €350m (£294m) fee over five-years before tax for a transfer of Borussia Dortmund’s Haaland. And that is even before Raiola’s cut. He scored €14m (£12m) from BVB in the £132k-a-week striker’s move from RB Salzburg in 2020.
Haaland’s father also pocketed €7m (£6m). Leaving Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers with a big bill to potentially sign the 15-cap star, who has scored 13 and assisted four goals in 10 games in all competitions so far this term.
Haaland also drew Thierry Henry’s praise in March amid a 41-goal, 12-assist campaign over 41 games. The Arsenal icon sung the Leeds-born forward’s praises on Sky Sports, noting:
“He doesn’t care about anything other than the goal. Other players will go on the wing – he wants to stay within the frame of the net. Between the two posts, he knows he is lethal.
“He’s so powerful, by the way. He just wants to run in behind, and the way he finishes is ridiculous. The ability that he has: he believes so much in himself, and I like that.”
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